This nitrogen fixing annual plant has adorable little yellow flowers that form pea pods later in the summer. The 8-15 lobed foliage is interesting to look at and the leaves are host plants for the little yellow, sleepy orange, and orange sulfur butterflies. The seed pods that form later in the summer look like tiny pea pods and are great food sources for native birds.
Planting/Harvesting Notes
- Plant once all danger of frost has passed
- Plant in full to partial sun
- Expect blooms from July to September
- Finished height 2-4 feet
- Partridge pea is a self sowing annual. It will reseed itself aggressively, but can be controlled by pulling the easily identifiable seedlings in the spring if desired.
- Host plant for little yellow, sleepy orange, and orange sulfur butterflies!
Seed Saving
- Wait until the pea pods are reddish in color, then examine the inside of the pod to see if the seeds have turned brown. If you wait too long, the pods will pop open and will be flung into the dirt. If they aren’t ripe (brown), then they won’t be viable. You can bag the pea pods with organza bags to avoid this situation if desired. Once ripe, the seeds should fall into the bag and be easily collectable. Save seeds in a labeled paper envelope.
