Family: Fabaceae

Chamaecrista nictitans, commonly known as partridge pea, is a small, fast-growing annual legume native to the eastern and central United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of Central and South America. It typically grows 1–3 feet tall and is recognized by its finely divided, sensitive leaves that fold when touched, along with bright yellow, five-petaled flowers that bloom throughout the warm season. Partridge pea is often used in restoration and landscaping projects because it improves soil fertility by fixing nitrogen, provides erosion control, and produces seeds that are an important food source for birds and other wildlife. Its showy flowers also attract native bees and butterflies, making it a popular choice in pollinator gardens.

In Hawaiʻi, partridge pea is already widely naturalized on all of the main Hawaiian Islands, where it commonly occurs along roadsides, in pastures, and in other disturbed areas. While it is not considered one of the most aggressive invasive plants, it readily self-seeds and can spread quickly under favorable conditions, forming dense stands that compete with native vegetation. Its presence in open and disturbed habitats may contribute to changes in plant community composition, particularly near sensitive ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on all main Hawaiian Islands
  
• A disturbance weed, with potential impacts to agriculture and the natural environment
  
• Other Chamaecrista species are invasive
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Reaches maturity in one growing season
  
• Seeds dispersed by gravity, internally by grazing animals and possibly accidentally and intentionally by people
  
• May tolerate cutting and fire

Low Risk Traits:

• Despite naturalization and weediness, Chamaecrista nictitans is an early successional plant and generally displaced by later successional species
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock
  
• Limited shade tolerance (dense shade may limit ability to spread)
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively