General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Plant Height: 3 - 7 feet
Fruit: Edible to birds
Flower Color: Yellow
Bi-Color: Yellow streaked with purple or red
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Vegetable
Suitable as Annual
Suitable for forage
Edible Parts: Fruit
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Propagation: Seeds: Provide light
Depth to plant seed: 1 - 2 inches
Sow in situ
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting

Image
Common names
  • Pigeon Pea
  • Puerto Rico Bean
  • Gandul
  • Dhal
  • Congo Pea
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Cajanus cajan
  • Synonym: Cajanus indicus

Photo Gallery
Location: Botanical Garden Berlin
Date: 2017-10-22
Location: Southlake, TX
Date: 2024-08-05
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA (my garden)
Date: 2013-12-28
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Brussels)
Date: 2018-01-24
Location: My garden
Date: 2014-11-22
The foliage and flowers of pigeon peas
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Date: 2014-02-14
Start seeds indoors under lights to extend the growing season.
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: March 2013
Location: murchison, tx
Date: 09-26-14
pigley pigeon pea plant
Location: South Florida
Date: Summer 2011
Young 'gandul' (pigeon pea) plant
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA (my garden)
Date: 2013-04-28
Cajanus cajan seedling
Comments:
  • Posted by Kevalsha (Astatula, Florida - Zone 9a) on Mar 5, 2017 11:38 AM concerning plant:
    I live in zone 9 Florida USA. My pigeon peas are doing very well. They sprout on their own if I broadcast the seeds. They can be transplanted or left where they have sprouted. They serve my garden in many ways: Food, (squirrels like them too). As climbing trellis for cucumbers and support for tomatoes. They provide semi-shade for some trees. They also amend the soil and nurture other plants. I discovered that the humming birds like to visit their flowers.
  • Posted by greene (Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) - Zone 8b) on Jan 29, 2014 7:45 PM concerning plant:
    Cajanus cajan, pigeonpeas/pigeon peas, can be grown as an annual, starting indoors where necessary to ensure a harvest before frost. The plants will not tolerate frost. In suitably warm climates they can be grown as a short-lived perennial living up to 5 years. The branches can be cut and used as mulch around other crops such as fruit trees.
  • Posted by greene (Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) - Zone 8b) on Dec 28, 2013 9:16 PM concerning plant:
    Cajanus cajan flower colors can vary greatly; see this link:

    http://www.icrisat.org/what-we...
  • Posted by Kevalsha (Astatula, Florida - Zone 9a) on Jun 25, 2019 4:32 AM concerning plant:
    At this moment I have about 6 pigeon Pea shrubs. They are growing very slowly. In my area I am supposed to start them in December but I am doing an experiment to find out if they can get to maturity before cold weather arrives.
  • Posted by greene (Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) - Zone 8b) on Aug 26, 2014 10:01 PM concerning plant:
    Cut back the main stem to about four feet.
    This will encourage side branching and will keep the plant at a more manageable height.
    The pods will be easier to pick, and the plant will be easier to move indoors (if desired) when cold weather arrives.
Plant Events from our members
thomas On November 11, 2016 Bloomed
thomas On February 20, 2016 Seeds germinated
Container seeds germinated
thomas From February 6, 2016 to February 7, 2016 Seeds sown
both in the ground and in containers to be transplanted later
Kevalsha On January 21, 2018 Entered Dormancy
My pigeon peas are now dormant and some of them may not come back as we had cold weather for several hours and they do not like that. I will plant some more pigeon peas. Pigeon Peas are a great substitute for meats. They are cooked the same way as any fabacea or beans. Pigeon peas can be harvested when green but fully mature or they can be left to dry and harvested at that stage. I prefer to harvest them when still green.
dave On April 11, 2024 Transplanted
Installed these into the north bed.
dave On March 27, 2024 Seeds germinated
dave On March 22, 2024 Seeds sown
Sowed 4 cells.
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Pigeon Peas by Kevalsha Jan 29, 2018 10:13 AM 3

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by nben and is called "Chocolate Covered Cherry Coleus"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.