Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) is our smallest member of the Cassia family here at MOSI. Native to Florida, this smaller species grows 1 to 2 feet in height and favors sandy soils. Drought hearty, this tough little plant can be found growing on roadsides, upland habitats and even often disturbed areas like power line cuts and construction areas. Partridge Pea blooms with the distinctive yellow cassia flowers from July to September.
As a native Florida plant, Partridge Pea is well adapted to our climate and sometimes challenging gardening conditions so if you have a sandy area where nothing seems to grow well, try this little gem. The Partridge Pea is currently blooming in the Backwoods Forest Preserve and in the Olustee Longleaf Pine Flatwoods Garden in the Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove.
Partridge pea is a host for various Sulphur butterflies including the Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) and Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) butterflies and also for the diminutive Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus).
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