Pigeon Pea
Cajanus cajan
Also listed as Cajanus indicus, Cytisus cajan
Also known as Gungo Pea, Congo Pea, Red Gram
Climate Match for your location
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Pigeon pea is a nitrogen-fixing tropical shrub producing nutritious edible pods and seeds valued as a staple legume crop in warm regions. It thrives in poor soils, requires minimal inputs, and provides multiple harvests per year in suitable climates.
Why grow it
Pigeon pea outperforms many annual legumes in marginal soils and drought-prone regions, establishing productive growth where beans or lentils struggle. Its perennial or semi-perennial habit delivers multiple harvests without annual replanting, and it fixes atmospheric nitrogen more efficiently than many grain legumes, reducing external fertility inputs. Where frost does not limit it to annual cultivation, pigeon pea requires less labor and water than common pulses while providing comparable protein yields.
Watch out for
In subtropical and temperate regions, pigeon pea is often grown as an annual and must be planted early enough to mature before frost; late sowings frequently fail to set seed. The plant can take three to four months to initial pod maturity, which may conflict with short growing seasons. Pigeons and other birds may cause significant seed loss in some locations, and certain pests (particularly pod borers) can reduce yields if left unmanaged.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
India and East Africa
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Pigeon pea is a nitrogen-fixing tropical shrub producing nutritious edible pods and seeds valued as a staple legume crop in warm regions. It thrives in poor soils, requires minimal inputs, and provides multiple harvests per year in suitable climates.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Pigeon Pea grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Pigeon pea outperforms many annual legumes in marginal soils and drought-prone regions, establishing productive growth where beans or lentils struggle. Its perennial or semi-perennial habit delivers multiple harvests without annual replanting, and it fixes atmospheric nitrogen more efficiently than many grain legumes, reducing external fertility inputs. Where frost does not limit it to annual cultivation, pigeon pea requires less labor and water than common pulses while providing comparable protein yields.
Watch out for
In subtropical and temperate regions, pigeon pea is often grown as an annual and must be planted early enough to mature before frost; late sowings frequently fail to set seed. The plant can take three to four months to initial pod maturity, which may conflict with short growing seasons. Pigeons and other birds may cause significant seed loss in some locations, and certain pests (particularly pod borers) can reduce yields if left unmanaged.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
India and East Africa
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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