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Crownvetch

Securigera varia

Also called Purple crown vetch, Crown vetch, Purple Crownvetch

Crownvetch
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0

Crownvetch is a low-growing, aggressive legume vine used for erosion control and sunny banks; it spreads vigorously and can become invasive, so it suits open areas rather than show gardens.

Family
Fabaceae (Pea & bean family)
Grows as
Climber
Light
Full sun
Water
Once established it tolerates dry conditions and needs little supplemental watering.
Soil
Tolerates poor, dry, and disturbed soils; well-drained is best.
Temperature
Hardy in cold winters; tolerates heat, with no specific cold limit commonly noted.
How easy
Easy
Safety
Toxic: Seeds and foliage contain toxic compounds and can cause gastrointestinal upset if eaten in quantity.

About

Securigera varia (synonym Coronilla varia), commonly known as crownvetch or purple crown vetch, is a low-growing legume vine. It is native to Africa, Asia and Europe and is commonly used throughout the United States and Canada for erosion control, roadside planting and soil rehabilitation. It has become an invasive species in many states of the US.

Crownvetch grows 1 to 2 feet (0.30 to 0.61 m) feet tall and bears small clusters of 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) pink and white flowers from early summer to late fall. The variety Penngift produces mounds of pink flowers. Crownvetch is a tough, aggressive spreading plant that will crowd out its neighbors in a show garden but is well suited to a sunny bank, where it will grow for decades with little to no fertilizing, mowing, or weeding since the thick foliage prevents other weeds.

Other Coronilla plants

Yellow crownvetch · Mediterranean crownvetch · Securigera orientalis

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Securigera varia by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

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