purple crownvetch
Securigera varia
Widely planted along United States highway embankments in the mid-20th century to prevent soil erosion, it is now classified as a noxious weed in many states.
- Scientific name
- Securigera varia
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Fabales › Fabaceae › Securigera
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Disturbed areas, roadsides, pastures, open fields, and waste grounds.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (produces energy via photosynthesis and fixes atmospheric nitrogen).
- Range
- Europe, Western Asia, North Africa, North America
- Size
- Creeping stems trail up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) long, forming dense mats 30 to 60 cm high.
- Lifespan
- Perennial (individual root systems and clonal colonies can persist for decades).
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Targeted eradication via herbicides, mechanical mowing, and biological control agents due to its highly invasive nature in non-native ranges.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch, but defensive via chemical toxicity. Do not ingest any part of this plant, as it contains coronillin, which is toxic to humans and non-ruminant animals (like horses). If ingested, seek medical or veterinary assistance immediately.
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.
Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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