Partridge Pea

Partridge Pea is a fast-growing native annual with bright yellow blooms that feed a wide range of pollinators. It’s a strong first-year performer for meadows, restoration edges, and sunny gardens—and it helps improve soil as it grows.

• When to sow: Direct sow in spring after frost, or late fall for natural weathering. Indoors, start 4–6 weeks before last frost.
• Light: Full sun (6+ hours) to light shade.
• Soil: Average to lean, well-drained soils; tolerates sandy and dry sites.
• Water: Keep evenly moist through germination. Drought-tolerant once established.
• Depth: 1/4" deep (or press in firmly and cover lightly).
• Spacing: 8–12" apart, or broadcast and thin for drifts.

Optional: Light scarification (a gentle nick or brief rub with sandpaper) can speed germination. In mixes, it can reseed—thin seedlings if you prefer a cleaner look.

Chamaecrista fasciculata is a keystone native for pollinators, especially specialist bees. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it supports soil health while blooming heavily in summer. Seedpods provide food for birds later in the season. Sensitive leaves fold with a touch.

• Height: 1–3 feet.
• Bloom window: Summer into early fall.
• Wildlife: Bees (including specialists), butterflies; seeds for quail and songbirds.
• Habit: Upright, branching annual; readily reseeds in open soil.
• Best uses: Meadows, restoration, sunny borders, pollinator corridors, school gardens.

Leave pods to mature for birds and reseeding. For a tidier garden edge, pull a few seedlings in spring where you don’t want it to spread.