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Native Plant Society of Texas

Partridge Pea

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Other common name(s):

Sleepingplant, Sensitive Plant

Family:

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Red Prairie
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Deep, Dry, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Deer

Maintenance

It can grow in moist or dry soil. It doesn’t like clay or competition. Blooms through the hottest part of the year. Like other members of the pea family, it produces nitrogen and enriches the soil. Native habitat: open woodlands, prairie, meadows, pastures, in a wide variety of open, often disturbed habitats.

Description

Blooms June-October. Partridge Pea is a slender-stemmed annual, with pinnately-compound leaves made up of many small leaflets that fold when touched. Large, showy, yellow flowers grow in the leaf axils. The fruit is a narrow, legume pod. Flowers attract bees and butterflies. Provides cover for gamebirds. Laval host: Cloudless Giant Sulphur.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Cassia fasciculata

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Plant them in the fall. They need to overwinter in the ground. Though they germinate in late spring. Collect seeds when they mature in August. Once the flower has faded, watch for the pods to ripen and turn brown. These pods contain the seeds. Carefully collect the pods before they dry and shatter, ensuring you don’t lose precious seeds. Air dry for one week in cloth bags. 1) https://seedsource.com/partridge-pea/ 2) https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=fabaceae-chamaecrista-1297 3) https://nativefloraseeds.org/products/partridge-pea
Seed Scarification Partridge Pea have a hard seed coat that needs scarification. This process mimics the natural breakdown of the seed coat in nature and allows water and oxygen to penetrate. While there are several methods for scarification, you can simply use sandpaper to gently abrade the seed coat. Alternatively, you can soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. Partrige Pea seeds are best sown directly in the ground. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil as this plant thrives in warm, sunny conditions. You can sow the seeds indoors, but it’s best to transplant them outdoors after the last frost. Plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and 6 inches apart. Water thoroughly and keep the soil moist until germination occurs, which usually takes 10-14 days. Thin seedlings as needed to ensure proper spacing. Once your seedlings have established, regular watering is essential, especially during dry periods. However, ensure that the soil doesn’t become waterlogged, which can lead to root rot. Collect seeds when they mature in August. Once the flower has faded, watch for the pods to ripen and turn brown. These pods contain the seeds. Carefully collect the pods before they dry and shatter, ensuring you don’t lose precious seeds. Air dry for one week in cloth bags. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-chamaecrista-fasciculata/ 2) https://nativefloraseeds.org/products/partridge-pea

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason