Chamaecrista fasciculata (partridge pea)

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Chamaecrista spp.

sensitive and partridge peas

Fabaceae

Tropical and subtropical America, with many species in North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Chamaecrista spp. is a genus of about 300 species of annual and perennial herbs and subshrubs in the legume family Fabaceae, most diverse in tropical and subtropical America and well represented in North America. Plants range from low annuals 1 to 3 ft (30 to 90 cm) tall to woody subshrubs, with pinnately compound leaves of many small, paired leaflets. In the sensitive species, such as C. nictitans, the leaflets fold together when touched or at nightfall. The flowers are bright yellow, 0.5 to 1.5 in (1 to 4 cm) across, with five slightly uneven petals and dark anthers, borne in the leaf axils. As legumes, these plants fix nitrogen in root nodules and grow on poor, sandy soils. C. fasciculata, the partridge pea, is a widespread North American annual sown in prairie restorations and erosion control, and its seeds feed quail and other ground birds. Extrafloral nectar glands on the leaf stalks draw ants and other insects. Limitations include the short life of the annual species, heavy reseeding, and reports of toxicity to cattle that graze large amounts of foliage.

Native Range

Chamaecrista spp. ranges from the central and eastern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, with additional species in Africa and Asia. The partridge pea (C. fasciculata) grows across the eastern and central United States in prairies, old fields, roadsides, and open sandy ground. Most species grow in open, sunny, disturbed sites on light soils.

Suggested Uses

Chamaecrista spp. is sown in prairie and meadow restorations, pollinator plantings, and erosion-control mixes on poor and sandy soils. The partridge pea is grown as a nitrogen-fixing cover and as a larval host for sulphur butterflies. Its seeds and cover support quail, songbirds, and other wildlife.

How to Identify

Identify Chamaecrista spp. by its feathery, pinnately compound leaves of many small leaflets and its bright yellow flowers with five uneven petals and dark, often reddish anthers. In the sensitive species the leaflets fold shut at a touch. A small cup-shaped nectar gland sits on the leaf stalk below the leaflets, and flat, narrow pods follow the flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

Summer Fall

Chamaecrista spp. blooms through summer and into early autumn, with the partridge pea flowering from July to September. Plants open new yellow flowers daily over many weeks as they keep growing. Bees collect pollen from the flowers, while butterflies and ants visit the nectar glands on the leaves.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Chamaecrista spp. grows in full sun on light, free-draining soils with a pH from about 5.5 to 7.0, and tolerates poor, sandy, and acidic ground thanks to its nitrogen-fixing roots. Plants are drought tolerant once rooted and need little or no watering in most settings. The annual species germinate in warm soil, flower the same season, and die at the first hard frost, returning from self-sown seed the next year. Sowing into bare or scarified ground in spring suits the partridge pea, which competes poorly with dense established turf. Foliage eaten in quantity has been linked to digestive upset in cattle.

Pruning

Chamaecrista spp. needs no routine pruning as an annual or wild plant. In sown stands the dead annual stems are cut or left standing over winter to drop seed and shelter wildlife. Cutting before the pods ripen reduces self-seeding where spread is unwanted.