Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata
A delightful annual legume that produces bright yellow flowers with distinctive red-spotted petals throughout summer and fall. This native prairie plant fixes nitrogen in the soil while attracting beneficial insects and providing seeds for quail and other wildlife. The sensitive compound leaves fold when touched, adding an interactive element that children love.
Sun
Full sun
Zones
3–9
USDA hardiness
Height
2.4 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Partridge Pea in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 native-wildflower →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Partridge Pea · Zones 3–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Flat, narrow 2 1/2" long green pods mature to brown, breaking open and dispersing seeds from July to November.
Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Legume. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Central and Eastern U.S.A.
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Drought, Dry Soil, Erosion
- +Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Pollinators, Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Flowers are a nectar source for bees and butterflies and seeds are consumed by songbirds, quail and wild turkeys. It is a host plant for the Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), and Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) larvae. The plant also provides cover for game birds.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Little Bluestem
Compatible prairie grass that shares similar soil and moisture requirements
Purple Coneflower
Attracts beneficial pollinators and predatory insects that help control pests
Black-eyed Susan
Complementary bloom times extend pollinator season and both thrive in similar conditions
Wild Bergamot
Attracts native bees and butterflies while repelling some harmful insects
Switchgrass
Provides structural support and wind protection while sharing nitrogen fixed by partridge pea
Butterfly Milkweed
Attracts monarch butterflies and other pollinators, both prefer well-drained soils
Wild Lupine
Both are nitrogen-fixing legumes that can enhance soil fertility together
Goldenrod
Provides late-season nectar for pollinators and creates beneficial insect habitat
Keep Apart
Tree Seedlings
Partridge pea is allelopathic to woody plants, inhibiting tree germination and growth
Cool-season Grasses
Compete aggressively for resources and can shade out this sun-loving annual
Tall Fescue
Dense growth habit and allelopathic properties suppress partridge pea establishment
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally disease resistant, very hardy annual
Common Pests
Generally pest resistant, may attract beneficial insects
Diseases
Rarely affected by diseases, very robust native