Partridge Pea is an annual grown for its yellow blooms, which open in early summer. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9 and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its early summer flowers are a real draw for native bees and butterflies. A nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.
Zones
3-9
pH Range
4.5-7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
90
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What Partridge Pea is
Partridge Pea grows as an annual and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in early summer. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Partridge Pea
Partridge Pea grows in USDA zones 3 through 9. Partridge Pea does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 180 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
59°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
90 days
Partridge pea; native annual legume; nitrogen-fixing pollinator cover; reseeds. Days = establishment to flowering.
USDA-NRCS
Mature Height
2 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
180+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant partridge pea in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Partridge Pea prefers pH 4.5 to 7 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut partridge pea blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — partridge pea isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Partridge Pea is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Partridge Pea thrives
Partridge Pea is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–9·Where Partridge Pea growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Partridge Pea can grow in these states:
See if Partridge Pea will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether partridge pea actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Partridge Pea in my zone?
Partridge Pea grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Partridge Pea?
Most growers plant partridge pea after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 180-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Partridge Pea need?
Partridge Pea needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Partridge Pea need?
Partridge Pea prefers soil pH 4.5 to 7, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Partridge Pea attract pollinators?
Yes — partridge pea's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for native bees and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Partridge Pea safe for pets?
Partridge Pea is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.