Partridge pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata · Fabaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant partridge pea: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Family
- Fabaceae (legumes)
- Form
- Annual herbaceous plant
- Adult size
- 30 to 60 cm tall
- Flowering
- July to September
- Foliage
- Deciduous, compound and touch-sensitive
- Growth
- Rapid
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender, annual in temperate climates
- Origin
- North and Central America
Care
Light Exposure
Fascicled senna requires a sunny location for optimal flowering. It tolerates well-drained, warm areas. Avoid overly shaded zones, which slow growth and reduce blooming.
Watering
Water regularly during growth and flowering, without waterlogging. This legume prefers slightly moist soil in summer. Reduce watering at the end of the season if grown in a pot.
Soil
Well-draining and fairly fertile soil is ideal. Fascicled senna appreciates medium-textured substrates rich in organic matter. Avoid compacted or poor soils that limit vigor.
Fertilizing
A modest fertilizer application in spring is usually sufficient. As a legume, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen: a balanced fertilizer promotes generous flowering without excess nitrogen.
Pruning and Maintenance
Pinch young plants to encourage bushier branching. Remove spent flowers to extend blooming. As an annual, no structural pruning is necessary.
Diseases and Pests
It is generally robust. Monitor excessive moisture which can promote rot. In case of aphid or spider mite attacks, treatment with water sprays or insecticidal soap will suffice.
Did you know?
Fascicled senna bears the name "Chamaecrista" (from Greek meaning "small acacia") and its leaves close at night, a phenomenon called nyctinasty. Once used by indigenous peoples of the Americas as a medicinal plant, it remains today a precious wildflower for pollinators in dry meadows.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Chinese wisteriaWisteria sinensis
- Common broomCytisus scoparius
- Black locustRobinia pseudoacacia
- Common PeaLathyrus oleraceus
- Honey locustGleditsia triacanthos
- Hairy greenweedGenista pilosa
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.