Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

Partridge Pea is one of the fastest ways to bring life to a native planting. This annual wildflower produces bright yellow flowers with reddish markings from midsummer into fall, creating a long-lasting display that attracts a constant stream of pollinators. The delicate, fern-like foliage gives the plant a soft texture that contrasts beautifully with bolder prairie flowers and grasses.

As an annual, Partridge Pea grows quickly from seed and readily reseeds itself in suitable conditions, often returning year after year without becoming aggressive. It thrives in poor soils, tolerates heat and drought, and is frequently one of the first plants to colonize disturbed ground. Whether used in pollinator gardens, prairie restorations, or sunny flower beds, it brings color, movement, and ecological value throughout the growing season.

Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun
Soil: Dry to medium; adaptable to sandy, rocky, and poor soils
Height: 1–3 feet
Spread: 1–2 feet
Zones: 3–9
Bloom time: July through September

Wildlife Value
Partridge Pea is a powerhouse for pollinators and wildlife. The flowers attract native bees, bumble bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout the summer. As a legume, it also supports specialized pollinators that collect pollen from its blooms. It serves as a host plant for several sulfur butterflies, including the Cloudless Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, and Sleepy Orange. Later in the season, birds and small mammals feed on the seeds, giving the plant value well beyond its flowering period.

Blooms Alongside: butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), stiff goldenrod (oligoneuron rigidum), hoary vervain (Verbena stricta), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

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