AGRONOMY GUIDE

PURDUE
UNIVERSITY
AY - 177 Legumes
Crownvetch
Maurice E. Heath, Agronomy Department
Crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.) is a long lived, winter hardy, perennial, herbaceous legume with an underground spreading root system. It has long been used in perennial flower gardens because of its beautiful profuse summer bloom.
It has gained wide recognition as a conservation plant for slope stabilization. In recent years it has shown promise as a forage plant.
Crownvetch is native to middle and southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It is believed to have been introduced into North America as a perennial flower plant. Plants and seed were distributed by commercial nurseries between 1890 and 1930. Thus, crownvetch is frequently found throughout the central and northern states where it escaped from home pIantings.
Uses and Areas of Adaptation
Crownvetch has been used extensively for slope stabilization and beautification along highways, on farm pond fill slopes, and for spoil bank reclamation. Recent research results show crownvetch to be promising on many soils for hay and pasture to complement other forage grasses and legumes. It responds best on soils with good surface and internal drainage. However, it has also shown considerable heaving and drought tolerance on fragipan soils. Crownvetch appears quite free of disease and insects.
Cultivars (Varieties) Recommended
The cultivars (varieties) are now certified — Penngift, Chemung, and Emerald. Penngift was registered in Pennsylvania and released in 1954. It has finer stems and leaves, is shorter and less erect than the other two. It has been used widely for slope stabilization. Chemung is a New York cultivar. Iowa released Emerald in 1961. The latter two have more seedling vigor and are taller growing than Penngift.
All three cultivars are recommended for pasture, slope stabilization and beautification. Emerald and Chemung are recommended for hay and pasture.
Seed Sources
Seed has been difficult to obtain in quantity at a reasonable price, scarcity of seed is probably the main reason for the delay in evaluating crownvetch for forage usage. Even though more seed is produced each year, the price of seed remains high. Certified seed of Emerald is being grown in Indiana. For seed sources, write to the Indiana Crop Improvement Association, RR 6, Box 25, Lafayette, Indiana 47905.
Getting a Stand
Since crownvetch does not possess the seedling vigor of alfalfa or red