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Purple Crown Vetch

Coronilla varia

Other Common Names

Crown Vetch

Plant Category

Perennial, Vine

Invasive Description

Native to Europe, northern Africa and southwest Asia, Purple Crown Vetch is a perennial herb of the pea family with creeping stems that may reach 1- 6 feet in length. It has compound leaves and pea-like, pink to white flowers in clusters at the end of extended stalks. Three ways it can be distinguished from other legumes are: its compound leaves have an odd number of leaflets, the leaves and flower stalks arise from the main stem, and the flowers occur in a radiating cluster called an umbel.

Ecological Threat

Purple Crown Vetch was introduced for erosion control on roadsides and in disturbed areas. The plant can invade and dominate a variety of vegetation types. It is a serious threat to many natural areas because of its abundant seed production and rapid spread via rhizomes. It creates dense, single-species stands that can smother native plants, reducing biodiversity.

How to Eradicate

For information on how to eradicate this invasive, view our statement on herbicide use and preferred alternatives for invasive plants.

Native Alternatives

You can replace this invasive plant with native alternatives. Here are some plants that make superior replacements.

Match your location on the Texas map to the color squares on the replacement plants below to find suitable replacements for your ecoregion.

Click for more details about the ecoregions
Additional Replacement Options: Vicia americana