The common sulfur butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves, and the larvae use the leaves as a food source. They have a reddish-purple spot at the base of the petal and stamens are red. Partridge pea often grows in dense stands, producing litter and plant stalks that furnish cover for upland game birds, small mammals, small non-game birds, and waterfowl. The flowers have yellow anthers that produce reproductive pollen, and purple anthers that produce food pollen, but no nectar.It thrives in areas that have been burned recently before declining in number in the following years.The leaves consist of 10 to 15 pairs of small, narrow leaflets that are somewhat delicate to the touch. The Partridge Pea is also known as the Sleeping Plant or Sensitive Plant. Partridge Pea Information. Seeds of this legume are also eaten by the greater and lesser prairie-chicken, ring-necked pheasant, mallard, grassland birds, and field mice. It does not compete well in established grasslands but thrives in disturbed areas with an annual rainfall of 15 to 45 inches. Seed pods are eaten by gamebirds and songbirds, and the plant provides excellent cover for gamebirds and browse for deer. Nectar is not available in the flowers of showy partridge pea but is produced by small orange glands at the base of each leaf. The plant also provides cover for game birds.Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9aFlat, narrow 2 1/2" long green pods mature to brown, breaking open and dispersing seeds from July to November.Clusters of 2-6, 1" flowers form in leaf axils with 5 bright yellow rounded petals of various sizes in an open irregular shape. Partridge pea seeds are high in phosphorus content and protein value, and low in crude fiber and lignin making digestibility generally high. The lower pH limit of partridge pea is 5.0 . Partridge pea is most common on sandy to sandy loam soils. Partridge pea has low water requirements and will grow and produce seed under stressed conditions. Blooms from June to September.The leaves are alternate and pinnately divided with up to 20 linear-oblong leaflets that are 2/3 inch long and 1/3 inch wide. The fruit is a straight, narrow pod 1½ to 2½ inches long, which splits along 2 sutures as it dries; the pod sides spiral to expel the seeds some distance from the parent plant.The seed is one of the major food items of northern bobwhite and other quail species because it remains in sound condition throughout the winter and early spring. Partridge pea routinely appears on newly disturbed soils and can be found growing in extensive colonies on prairies, riverbanks, bluffs and bottoms, as well as upland forests throughout the Great Plains states. The lower pH limit of showy partridge pea is 5.0. Like other members of the pea family, Partridge-pea requires the presense of microorganisms that inhabit nodules on the plants root system and produce nitrogen compounds necessary for the plants survival. Range & Habitat: The native Partridge Pea is widespread and locally common in Illinois, except in some northern counties, where it is uncommon or absent (see Distribution Map). A pollinator favorite, it’s attractive to … Partridge Pea is an early pioneer species on sandy disturbed sites, producing dense stands for a few years until later successional grasses and forbs establish. It is a host plant for the Cloudless Sulphur, Little Yellow and Sleepy Orange butterflies. Leaves fold together when touched and as it gets dark in the evening. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Sleepingplant or partridge-pea is a slender-stemmed, 1-3 ft. Description Description (Chamaecrista fasciculata) I grew this native plant for the first time last year, and was quite impressed with its visual appeal, even before the cheerful yellow flowers appeared! Partridge pea was found to be one of the most important fall and winter foods of bobwhite quail in Alabama. Flowers normally bloom July-September. Partridge pea favors sandy-textured, moist, partially acidic soils (pH 6.0 to 6.5). Large, yellow flowers first mature in summer and continue into early fall and are attractive to bees and butterflies.

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Flowers normally bloom July-September.

Partridge pea is considered an important honey plant, often occurring where few other honey plants are found. Plant in a meadow or naturalized area, along a slope to help with erosion or in an area where you would like to improve the soil. Add to cart. Partridge pea often grows in dense stands, producing litter and plant stalks that furnish cover for upland game birds, small mammals, small non-game birds, and waterfowl. It is an annual with a tap root.

The common sulfur butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves, and the larvae use the leaves as a food source. It can grow to 3 feet tall and taller plants tend to sprawl on the ground.It prefers full sun in moist, well-drained soil and is resistant to erosion drought and dry soil.