Cajanus cajan Seeds | Pigeon Pea
LATIN NAME: Cajanus cajan
COMMON NAME: Pigeon Pea
Plant Profile
Cajanus cajan, better known as Pigeon Pea, is a perennial in the pea family. It grows quickly and stands heat and dry spells well. It likes sun, and well-drained soil. During flowering it gives bees and other insects a dependable food source. Gardeners value it precisely for this blend of qualities.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Cajanus cajan ranges from the botany of the pea family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Drought tolerance of pigeon pea gives it a long place in research on dryland grain legumes of pea family, and cajan species appears in studies of low-water cropping and seed nutrition. Because it has been grown for so long, its garden habits are thoroughly documented.
Uses & Benefits
Pigeon Pea works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. In warm garden, pigeon pea stocks warm season with protein-rich pods. Split peas serve dals and stews for generations, plants feed soil and animals, and shrub makes hedge and the windbreak. It grows well in well-drained, sunny ground. Once it has settled, the workload drops to almost nothing.
Pigeon pea is a protein staple of the tropics, and its leaves and roots have folk records for coughs and jaundice; the seed’s resistant starch makes it a low-glycemic food.
Growing from Seed
Pigeon Pea grows readily from seed. Use a fine, free-draining seed compost, scatter the seed evenly, cover it lightly and hold it just moist in good light. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Pigeon Pea is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Once established, Pigeon Pea largely looks after itself. It is generous with beginners and their occasional misjudgements.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Pigeon Pea: