🫛 Pigeon Peas
Cajanus cajan
vegetables
perennial legume shrub (often grown as annual)
☀️ Sun
full sun
💧 Water
low to moderate, drought-tolerant
🗺️ Zones
9, 12 (perennial), annual elsewhere
🧪 Soil pH
5.0-7.0
🪴 Soil Type
well-draining, tolerates poor soils
🚿 Drainage
Well-drained
📏 Spacing
18-36 in. apart, 36-60 in. between rows (perennial shrub)
⏱️ Maturity
120-200 days (from seed); short-duration varieties 120-140 days, long-duration 180-200 days
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Dahl, soups, stews, fresh green peas, dried split peas (toor dal)
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (7)
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
🤝 citrus trees
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
Both are nitrogen-fixing legumes with compatible root depths , peanuts grow low while pigeon peas grow tall, making efficient use of vertical and horizontal space.
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
⚠️ Keep Apart (1)
⚠️ plants needing full sun beneath mature shrubs
Mature pigeon peas (6-12 ft) cast deep shade; understory vegetables fail from light starvation
📝 Growing Notes
Deep-rooted perennial nitrogen fixer. Excellent for agroforestry and alley cropping. Provides partial shade for understory crops. Edible peas, animal fodder, and green manure. Lives 3-5 years as perennial.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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