Flower Specifications
- Season: Annual
- USDA Zones: 3 - 9
- Height: 12 - 24 inches
- Bloom Season: Mid-summer to fall
- Bloom Color: Yellow
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Environment: Full sun
- Soil Type: Sand, loam, gravel, or clay, pH 5.6 - 7.3
- Foliage Color: Light green
Planting Directions
- Temperature: 55F
- Average Germ Time: 14 - 28 days
- Light Required: Yes
- Depth: 1/4 inch
- Sowing Rate: 1/2 lb per 1,000 square feet
- Moisture: Keep seed moist until germination
- Plant Spacing: If planting in rows, 3 feet apart
- Care & Maintenance: See: Partridge Pea
Partridge Pea (Cassia Fasciculata) - A versatile annual that is perfect for a naturalized setting or meadow! Grow Partridge Peas from flower seeds for a variety of settings which include, wildlife habitat improvement, erosion control, and to beautify a natural setting with an attractive wild flower. Cassia Fasciculata has large, showy, yellow flowers. Each flower is marked with red and is followed by a narrow pod. The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees and butterflies, and the pods produce Partridge Pea flower seed which is a major food source for gamebirds and songbirds. Some of the wildlife that benefit from Partridge Pea flower seeds are prairie-chicken, ring-necked pheasant, mallard, grassland birds, deer, turkey, dove, pheasant, rabbit, and quail. Partridge Peas often grow in dense stands, producing foliage that furnishes cover for upland game birds, small mammals, small non-game birds, and waterfowl.
Partridge Pea is considered an important honey plant as well. It is quite attractive in regards to both its foliage and flowering habit. This flowering plant can be used along road banks and stream banks to control erosion. Partridge Pea prefers full sun and average to dry conditions. The soil can contain sand, loam, gravel, or clay, and because it is a legume, it will add nitrogen to the soil. Partridge Pea is easy to grow from flower seeds, but can spread readily in dry, open situations as it self-sows. Partridge Pea grows wild throughout the Midwest, eastern, and southern United States in zones 3 to 9.
Partridge Pea flower seed can be planted from late winter (March) to late spring (May). A cold treatment by refrigerating the seed for 30 days is helpful in aiding germination. After the cold treatment, broadcast the Partridge Pea flower seed in weed-free prepared soil. Rake the seed in and cover 1/4 inch. Keep the seeds moist. Established stands of Partridge Peas will disappear without some general maintenance. In spring, remove weeds, small brush, and old sod to expose the soil so that the flower seeds that have been self-sown can come in good contact with it.
