Sesbania sesban aka Egyptian Sesban

Sesbania sesban goes by the name sesban. It is a legume, part of the Fabaceae family. Kew gives its native range as tropical and southern Africa. This range also covers Arabia and the Indian subcontinent. People have grown it for centuries in Africa and tropical Asia. It has spread beyond gardens in other tropical regions, too. Wild plants grow by streams and at swamp edges. They also grow on low ground that floods.

This shrub or small tree grows fast and has a narrow crown. Garden guides give its height and spread as about 16 feet [5 metres]. Some plants reach 23 feet [7 metres] tall. It has a short life of about ten years. Close spacing tends to give it one main stem. In open ground, low side branches make it bushy. People use fibre from its bark in the local area.

Bees pollinate the flowers, which means they move pollen between them. Plants can set seed with no other plant nearby. People eat the flowers and leaves as vegetables. They cook the flowers and sometimes add them to omelettes. They also grind seeds and let them ferment. This makes a paste used to flavour food. Fresh seeds are poisonous to humans. Do not eat them raw. Sources report food use only after long soaking and cooking. Folk medicine uses the roots, leaves, and seed oil. These uses do not prove that treatments are safe or work.

Give sesban full sun and moist to wet soil. It can also cope with drought when growing conditions turn dry. It grows in sand, loam, and heavy clay, even in poor soil. It can grow in acid, alkaline, and salty soils. It does best in warmth and prefers daytime temperatures of 18–28°C. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12. Dormant plants may live through about −5°C. Young shoots can suffer severe harm at −1°C. Strong wind can harm the plant, too.

Sesban fixes nitrogen, which can help enrich soil where people grow plants. Growers use it to shade crops and feed livestock. It also serves as living fences and trellises. It supplies fuel and plant matter to improve soil. Plantations use it to shade coffee, tea, and cocoa. Growers plant it to shelter some crops, though wind can harm it. Its fast growth and short life suit short-term planting roles. Seeds have a hard coat that needs treatment before sowing. Soaking in warm water helps water enter the seed. Rubbing the coat with care helps water enter, too.