PlantFiles: Partridge Pea, Wild Sensitive Plant
Chamaecrista nictitans

I first found this plant growing along a hard dirt roadway. It has been a beautiful performer in my garden. Spreads nicely, yet easy to pull where you don't want it. I let it grow freely and one year had a bobwhite quail nest in the midst of a clump of tall weeds/wildflowers in the center of my 40 x 60' "flower" bed. A thrill to watch the little ones take off. I find that it does fold up when touched, but I have to hold it quite a few seconds to get this action. I like it because it is self cleaning, always pretty. I've researched it a little; read that native Americans used it as baby rattles. Am planning to cook some seeds and see how they taste.

Yes, this plant is wild in my area. However, it does not fold up when you touch it. It only folds up at night. It likes dry sandy areas that get lots of sun.

This lovely little wildflower graces our fields and meadows in late summer here in west KY. Never terribly invasive, but common enough that large colonies of them can be see often.

A characteristic of this plant is that when touched or brushed, the leaves fold up tightly like hands in prayer...another common name is Prayer Plant.