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
Questions or problems? Contact our webmaster
© 2008 Cornell University. All rights reserved