Shoot Logo
Take a photoPlans & pricingBook a demoGet started

Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata (Black-eyed pea)

Other names: Cowpea, Crowder pea, Southern pea

ShootChecker™

STOP: Make sure you get the “Right Plant, Right Place.”

90% of plants die because they were the wrong plant choice. Shoot helps you to save valuable time and money to get the right plant choices for any garden.

How ShootChecker™ works

Get the Right Plant, Right Place

1

Provide details about your garden or your client's garden conditions

2

ShootChecker™ will help you assess if it is the right plant

3

Save money with Right Plant, Right Place.

Get started Book a demo

Other Shoot features

Laptop, tablet and mobile devices

One-stop planning
Streamlined garden design and record-keeping all in one place

Monthly care advice
Receive tailored monthly care advice for plants in your garden

Present and collaborate
Share designs and care tasks with anyone

Join Shoot today to enjoy…

  • ShootChecker™
  • One-stop garden design
  • Monthly care advice for every plant in your garden
  • Saving money with Right Plant, Right Place

All you need to do is join.

Get started
Book a demo

Already a member? Sign in

Add to plant list
Species
V. unguiculata subsp. unguiculata is a vigorous yet tender, bushy annual or twining climber with palmate leaves divided into three, ovate, mid- to dark green leaflets and racemes of pale lilac flowers followed by slender, cylindrical pods containing edible, cream seeds, each with a prominent, black spot.
Add to plant list
ShootChecker™
Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.6 m 0.6 m 1-2 years
1 ft 1 ft 1-2 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

Check to see if this is the Right Plant, Right Place with ShootChecker™

Open ShootChecker™

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Best in well-drained, sandy, acid loam in a sunny, sheltered site but tolerates a variety of soil conditions. Requires long, warm summers with 60-100 frost-free days. Water regularly in dry periods.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, Sub-Tropical, Cottage/Informal, City, Wallside and trellises, Add to salads, Conservatory

UK hardiness

H4

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11

Sunset zone

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 1, 2, 3

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Bushy, Climbing

Native to

Africa

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Fragrance

Flowers are fragrant

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Place supports as soon as possible after planting. Harvest when pods are dry and brittle. When removing plants at the end of the growing season, remove the growth above ground, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release nitrogen into the soil.

Propagation methods

Seed

Propagation

In areas with short summers, sow indoors at least 100 days before the first fall date. Plant out when soil temperatures reach above 15C (60F). To direct sow, plant seeds 2.5 cm deep, 5cm apart in rows at least 90cm apart. Thin when first leaves appear.

Pests

Glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Support with pea sticks or wire netting in spring (optional)

Cut back in autumn (optional)

Place straw between rows of soft fruit

Plant tender plants after danger of frost has passed (late spring, early summer)

Sow seeds in containers with heat (spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (4)

Vigna

Select all Deselect all
0 selected Add to a plant list
0 selected
Vigna radiata 'Sprouting Organic'
View
Select
Vigna radiata 'Sprouting Organic' Sprouting organic mung beans
Vigna caracalla
View
Select
Vigna caracalla Snail vine
Vigna radiata
View
Select
Vigna radiata Mung bean
Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata
View
Select
Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata Black-eyed pea
Select all Deselect all Add to a plant list

Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata with other Shoot members
Read more
TOP