Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
Chamaecrista fasciculata, commonly known as Partridge Pea, is a native annual wildflower found in prairies, savannas, open woodlands, and roadsides throughout Illinois. It thrives in dry to medium, well-drained soils and prefers full sun, making it well-suited for sunny, disturbed sites and restoration areas.
This plant features delicate, fern-like compound leaves that close slightly when touched and drop off in fall. From mid to late summer, it produces bright yellow, five-petaled flowers with distinctive red or purple spots at the base of the petals. The flowers are followed by slender, curved seed pods that often pop open when mature. Partridge Pea typically grows 1 to 3 feet tall and has a bushy, airy form.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Chamaecrista fasciculata is a valuable addition to prairie gardens, pollinator habitats, and soil improvement projects. As a legume, it helps fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching the surrounding area. Its flowers are a critical late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies, especially native bumblebees and sulfur butterflies, while the seeds provide food for birds such as bobwhite quail. This plant brings bright color, ecological function, and seasonal interest to native landscapes.
Chamaecrista fasciculata, commonly known as Partridge Pea, is a native annual wildflower found in prairies, savannas, open woodlands, and roadsides throughout Illinois. It thrives in dry to medium, well-drained soils and prefers full sun, making it well-suited for sunny, disturbed sites and restoration areas.
This plant features delicate, fern-like compound leaves that close slightly when touched and drop off in fall. From mid to late summer, it produces bright yellow, five-petaled flowers with distinctive red or purple spots at the base of the petals. The flowers are followed by slender, curved seed pods that often pop open when mature. Partridge Pea typically grows 1 to 3 feet tall and has a bushy, airy form.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Chamaecrista fasciculata is a valuable addition to prairie gardens, pollinator habitats, and soil improvement projects. As a legume, it helps fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching the surrounding area. Its flowers are a critical late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies, especially native bumblebees and sulfur butterflies, while the seeds provide food for birds such as bobwhite quail. This plant brings bright color, ecological function, and seasonal interest to native landscapes.
Chamaecrista fasciculata, commonly known as Partridge Pea, is a native annual wildflower found in prairies, savannas, open woodlands, and roadsides throughout Illinois. It thrives in dry to medium, well-drained soils and prefers full sun, making it well-suited for sunny, disturbed sites and restoration areas.
This plant features delicate, fern-like compound leaves that close slightly when touched and drop off in fall. From mid to late summer, it produces bright yellow, five-petaled flowers with distinctive red or purple spots at the base of the petals. The flowers are followed by slender, curved seed pods that often pop open when mature. Partridge Pea typically grows 1 to 3 feet tall and has a bushy, airy form.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Chamaecrista fasciculata is a valuable addition to prairie gardens, pollinator habitats, and soil improvement projects. As a legume, it helps fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching the surrounding area. Its flowers are a critical late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies, especially native bumblebees and sulfur butterflies, while the seeds provide food for birds such as bobwhite quail. This plant brings bright color, ecological function, and seasonal interest to native landscapes.
Bloom: mid-summer to fall
Habitats: abandoned fields; limestone glades; mesic to dry black soil prairies; open areas along railroads and roadsides; sand prairies; savannas
Lifespan: annual
Moisture: average to dry
Plant type (height): forb (0.5 to 2 feet)
Requirements: full sun
Soil: clay; gravel; loam; sand