The Sensitive Partridge Pea is a native self-sowing annual wildflower of the USA in the pea family (Fabaceae). It is found in a variety of habitats including woodland borders, prairies, wet shores, dry sandy soil, and disturbed areas along the roadsides. The descriptive name, sensitive, is based on the fact that the leaflets fold together when touched. The genus name is from the Greek words chamae for low growth and crista for crested. The species name is derived from Latin meaning “to wink”. Plant it about ¼ - ¾ inches deep in late spring to early summer. The seeds germinate quickly to 4” to 20” tall. The summer blooms are showy small yellow flowers. They grow in a variety of soils but prefer sandy or well-drained soil to prevent root rot of their long tap root. It can tolerate partial shade, but grows better in full sun. The Sensitive Partridge Pea builds soil nitrogen. It is used along highways to create a pollinator habitat and control erosion. It is considered weedy because it spreads to adjacent disturbed fields where there is no competition. It is a valuable food source for wildlife. The flower attracts pollinators, the seeds are eaten by small mammals and birds, and the nectar-producing gland on the stem attracts wasps, ants, and spiders. The plant is also consumed by livestock when nothing else is available. The Sensitive Partridge Pea is also native to Mexico and parts of South and Central America. The Sensitive Patridge Pea is a useful cover crop because it improves the soil nitrogen content. Due to the deep tap root, you can place it on a slope or bank to control erosion. It can populate a disturbed area like a meadow or woodland edge. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : It is susceptible to nematodes.
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) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Linear; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The compound leaf has 20-36 leaflets on a slender stem. The leaflets are less than an inch long and wide, and have a small spine on the tip. The leaves are sensitive and may fold when disturbed.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Irregular; Lipped
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The irregular yellow pea-shaped flowers bloom June to September. The lower petals are twice as long as the others. They are solitary on a short raceme or a cluster of 2-3. Even though the petals are irregular, the flower is bilaterally symmetrical. The flowers grow where the leaf and stem meets.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The oblong fruit is a flattened single-chambered legume. The ripen fruit splits along the seam to reveal smooth brown or black seeds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The multiple stems are smooth or have very short hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
United States, Mexico, parts of South and Central America
Wildlife value
It is a larval host for the little sulphur (Eurema lisa) and cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae) butterfly. It is eaten by a variety of birds. The flower attracts pollinators. The seeds are eaten by small mammals and birds. The leaves have a small nectar-producing glads which attracts wasps, ants, and spiders.
Attracts
Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Host plant for
little sulphur (Eurema lisa) and cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae) butterfly
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Legume
Uses (ethnobotany)
Cherokee Native Americans used it to treat infant spasms. It was also used as a cathartic and vermifuge.