Does it need full sun?

Yes, it thrives in full sun and will become leggy in the shade.

Will it come back every year?

It is an annual, but it drops seeds that will sprout the following spring.

Plant guide

Partridge pea.

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Pronounced kam-uh-KRIS-tuh fas-ik-yoo-LAY-tuh

Also known as Golden Cassia, Partridge Pea, Prairie-senna, Sensitive-pea, Showy Partridge-pea, Showy Partridgepea, Sleepingplant, large-flowered sensitive pea

Partridge pea is a charming native annual that brings a splash of yellow to meadows and roadsides. It is a fantastic choice for supporting local pollinators like bees and butterflies. You will love how its delicate, ferny foliage folds up when touched.

Another photo of Partridge pea — Photo by Paul Roots (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual wildflower
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Mid summer to early autumn

Care

This plant thrives in full sun and prefers well draining soil. Keep an eye out for wilting during extreme dry spells, though it is quite drought tolerant once established. It readily reseeds itself, so expect new growth in the same spot next year.

Watering: Water deeply during the first few weeks until the roots are well established.
Feeding: This plant generally does not require fertilizer as it fixes its own nitrogen.
Pruning: You can cut the plant back after it has finished flowering and dropped its seeds.
Repotting: As an annual, this plant completes its life cycle in one season and does not need repotting.
Soil: Sandy or rocky soil
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Temperature: -20 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Annual, completes life cycle in one season.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth during the active season

Safety

People: This plant is generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion is not recommended.
Children: The small seeds could pose a choking hazard if swallowed by young children.
Contact allergens: No notable skin irritation is associated with this plant.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during peak bloom.
Edibility: The seeds are not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

Bright yellow five petaled flowers
Compound leaves with many leaflets
Sensitive leaves fold when touched
Slender seed pods turn dark brown
Stems often have reddish tint

Height: 0.3 to 0.9m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 2 to 4cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Leaf SpotCommon
AphidsUncommon
CaterpillarsUncommon
Powdery MildewUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: The plant dies back completely after the first frost, leaving behind seeds that overwinter in the soil.
In containers: It grows well in containers if provided with deep pots to accommodate its taproot.

Seed Sowing

1. Collect dry pods in late autumn.
2. Scarify seeds lightly with sandpaper.
3. Sow directly into garden soil in early spring.

Plant in groups to create a dense patch that supports more pollinators.

Grows well with

Little Bluestem · They share similar moisture needs and provide a natural prairie aesthetic.
Purple Coneflower · Both plants attract a wide variety of pollinators to the garden.

Similar species

Sensitive Plant · Both exhibit rapid leaf movement when touched.

Science

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Chamaecrista
Order: Fabales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Eastern and central North America.
Conservation: It is a common native species and is not currently under threat.

It grows in open, disturbed areas where it quickly colonizes bare soil.

Value to wildlife: larval host plant, nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: pollinator gardens, meadow restoration, soil stabilization

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: Yes, it thrives in full sun and will become leggy in the shade.
Will it come back every year?: It is an annual, but it drops seeds that will sprout the following spring.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Chamaecrista means ground crest, while the species name fasciculata refers to the clustered arrangement of the flowers.

Good to know

It is an annual that readily reseeds itself in the garden.
The plant is a member of the legume family and fixes nitrogen in the soil.
It is a primary host for the cloudless sulphur butterfly.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.