Partridgepea

Biological Name:

Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridgepea)

Natural Habitat:

Partridgepea: The natural habitat of Partridgepea is in open, sunny areas such as fields, roadsides, and waste places, in the eastern and central regions of North America.

Description:

Partridgepea is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Fabaceae family which also includes plants such as peas and beans. Partridgepea is an annual or perennial plant that produces small yellow or white flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas partridgepea is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is partridge pea invasive?
A: Habitat: Partridge Pea requires full to partial sun and drier upland sites. It is invasive if not controlled and toxic to browsing cattle but not to white-tailed deer who like it. Names: Partridge Pea was formerly classified in the genus CassiaCassiaCassia is also the English common name of some species in the genus Cinnamomum of the family Lauraceae. Species of the genera Senna and Chamaecrista were previously included in Cassia. Cassia now generally includes the largest species of the legume subtribe Cassiinae, usually mid-sized trees.https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cassia_(genus)Cassia (genus) – Wikipedia, as one of the Sennas where it was named Cassia chamaecrista L.
Source

Q: Is partridge pea poisonous?
A: The fruits and seeds of partridge pea contain anthraquinones that may cause irritation of the digestive tract if consumed in large quantities. When this occurs there may be diarrhea and some abdominal pain (colic).
Source

Q: How do I get rid of Partridge peas?
A: Pull out: Before weeds are strong, wear gloves or use tools to dig out weeds. … Pruning: Pruning before weeds can effectively control the spread of weeds, especially for annual weeds.
Source

Q: Do deer eat partridge peas?
A: In fact, as much as 70% of a deer’s spring and summer diet consists of forbs. Some native forbs commonly eaten by deer during summer include ragweed, sumpweed, wild lettuce, pokeweed, verbena, beggar’s lice, partridge peas, and asters.
Source

Q: Do deer like partridge peas?
A: White-tailed deer can and will eat it without being harmed and do so readily throughout the summer and fall. To establish new stands, partridge pea can be planted from March to May.
Source

Q: Do Partridge peas spread?
A: Partridge pea is known to spread in wild habitats such as prairies, meadows, open woodlands, and savannas within its growing zones (USDA 3 to 9), but in garden environments it may prove to be invasive. It reseeds to propagate itself and has a fairly deep taproot, up to 12 inches deep.
Source

Q: Is partridge pea toxic to cattle?
A: Food and Cover for Birds & Mammals However, when eaten in large quantities, partridge pea can be toxic to livestock. Partridge pea plants often grow in bunches and form a thicket of plants. These thickets provide a place to hide, rest, shelter, and nest for small mammals, waterfowl, songbirds, and quail.
Source

Q: Can you eat a partridge pea?
A: Partridge pea was found to be one of the most important fall and winter foods of bobwhite quail in Alabama. Partridge pea seeds are high in phosphorus content and protein value, and low in crude fiber and lignin making digestibility generally high.
Source

Q: How do you control Partridge peas?
A: Frequent pruning can suppress the growth and fruiting of weeds, which can effectively remove weeds that year. Tilling: Tilling the soil before cultivation, picking up and discarding the perennial weed roots, discarding, exposing or burying deeply, it can also be used to make organic fertilizer and compost with weeds.
Source

Q: Is partridge pea drought tolerant?
A: Partridge Pea is easy to grow from flower seeds, but can spread readily in dry, open situations as it self-sows. It also grows wild throughout the Midwest, eastern, and southern United States in zones 3 to 9 and is resistant to drought requiring low water usage.
Source

Q: What not to plant next to snap peas?
A: Just as there are good companion plants to grow with peas, there are also plants that will inhibit your peas from growing properly. Alliums like onions, garlic, and chives stunt the growth of peas. Avoid planting peas and alliums in the same garden beds.
Source

Q: Do bees like partridge pea?
A: Partridge Peas are an excellent native nectar source for honeybees and other insects dependent on this energy supply for their existence. In years gone by beekeepers would move hives into close proximity to these plants.
Source

Q: Is partridge pea perennial?
A: Native from southern Florida to northern Minnesota, Partridge Pea looks best when planted in groups and is easy to include in most medium to large size gardens. A short-lived perennial that is grown as an annual, Partridge Pea has bright yellow flowers that incorporate easily into many garden border combinations.
Source

Q: Do pea plants grow back every year?
A: Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) only live for a year, dying after setting seed. But don’t let this put you off as they are super easy to grow from seed. Perennial species such as Lathyrus latifolius come back year after year, but mostly lack fragrance and there are fewer to choose from.
Source

Q: Should sweet pea plants be cut back?
A: Prune the plants back to the ground in late winter or early spring before growth begins. Prune sweet pea plants with diseased foliage back to the ground in fall. Discard, don’t compost, the leaves and stems of diseased plants to reduce the risk of future disease problems.
Source

Q: Do peas regrow after winter?
A: In very cold areas, they may not grow until early spring, though Austrian winter peas started early enough in the fall usually manage to overwinter under the snow to get a head start on the weather warming up. As long as the plant’s crown near the soil doesn’t freeze and die, it will re-sprout.
Source

Q: How tall does partridge pea get?
A: Partridge Pea is a 2′ to 4′ tall, prolific self-seeding, native annual. It has large numbers of showy yellow petals with red centers. Partridge Pea flowers in the summer and prefers dry to medium soils and full sun sites.
Source

Q: Does partridge pea fix nitrogen?
A: Soil Improvements Because partridge pea is a legume, its roots have small nodules that contain nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria. These bacteria take nitrogen from the air and transform it into a form that the plant is able to use.
Source

Q: Is partridge pea good for wildlife?
A: Partridge pea is a warm-season legume commonly used in wildlife seed mixes. Conservation Reserve Program lands are often seeded with these wildlife mixes. Partridge pea provides good nutrition and cover for birds and other wildlife.
Source

Q: What is partridge pea good for?
A: Partridge pea is commonly grown as an ornamental. The bright yellow flowers make it a popular choice for use in native gardens. Restoration: Partridge pea is considered an excellent species for planting on disturbed areas for erosion control and improving soil fertility.
Source

About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.