Partridge Pea is a herbaceous annual that is native to most of the eastern USA and can be found in open woods, meadow, prairies and plains. Large, yellow flowers first mature in summer and continue into early fall and are attractive to bees and butterflies. The feathery green leaves fold together when touched and in the evening as darkness approaches. The flower is followed by a narrow pod which is attractive to songbirds and game birds. Because it is a legume it fixes nitrogen and helps improve the soil. It can grow to 3 feet tall and taller plants tend to sprawl on the ground. It prefers full sun in moist, well-drained soil and is resistant to erosion drought and dry soil. Plant in a meadow or naturalized area, along a slope to help with erosion or in an area where you would like to improve the soil. Do note that it can be weedy and self-seeds easily but it is an important wildlife plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Leaf spot and mildew occasionally occur. Deer browse the foliage.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Prostrate; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear; Oblong
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are alternate and pinnately divided with up to 20 linear-oblong leaflets that are 2/3 inch long and 1/3 inch wide. They have petioles with nectaries that attract insects. Leaves fold together when touched and as it gets dark in the evening.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Clusters of 2-6, 1" flowers form in leaf axils with 5 bright yellow rounded petals of various sizes in an open irregular shape. They have a reddish-purple spot at the base of the petal and stamens are red. Blooms from June to September.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Flat, narrow 2 1/2" long green pods mature to brown, breaking open and dispersing seeds from July to November.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and Eastern U.S.A.
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
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.