Crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.)

Characteristics

• Yield based on 2 harvests/season
• Seeds/pound: 110,000
• Seeding rate: 10-15 lbs pure live seed/acre
• Seeding date: early spring, late summer or fall
• Ground cover for steep roadbanks, surface mine spoil, and industrial sites where low maintenance is important

Advantages

• long-lived perennial if not harvested
• well adapted to shallow, low-fertility, acid soils
• excellent drought tolerance
• no bloat hazard

Concerns

• low seedling vigor, slow to establish
• poor shade tolerance
• not adapted to wet soils
• very poor persistence when harvested
• low palatability due to nitro-compounds
• lower yielding than alfalfa

More information

• Forage Fact Sheet
• USDA Plant Fact Sheet