crown vetch

a plant, Coronilla varia, of the legume family, native to the Old World, having clusters of pink flowers and used to prevent erosion on banked roadsides. Also called axseed.

[1895-1900]

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Vigorous trailing legume (Coronilla varia), native to the Mediterranean but widely grown in temperate areas as a ground cover.

It has fernlike leaves and clusters of white to pink flowers. The sturdy roots are useful in binding the soil of steep slopes and roadside embankments. As a legume, crown vetch draws nitrogen from the air, trapping it in the roots, and thus improves soil fertility. It dies back to the crown each fall in cold areas, resuming growth in spring. Cutting the plant back in the fall or early spring encourages quick growth.

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▪ plant

      (Coronilla varia), vigorous trailing plant, of the pea family (Fabaceae), native to the Mediterranean region but widely grown in temperate areas as a ground cover. It has fernlike leaves and clusters of white to pink flowers. The sturdy roots are useful in binding the soil of steep slopes and roadside embankments. As a legume, crown vetch draws nitrogen from the air, trapping it in the roots, and thus improves soil fertility.

      Crown vetch dies back to the crown each fall in cold areas, resuming growth in spring. Quick growth of the plant is encouraged by cutting it back in the fall or early spring. The varieties C. varia ‘Penngift' and ‘Emerald' are dense, deep-green plants with large attractive flower clusters.

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