Bloomipedia
Purple crownvetch (Securigera varia)
Photo: Steven Lamonde via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Purple crownvetch

Securigera varia

★ Official state beautification and conservation plant of Pennsylvania (1982)Introduced in the lower 48

Purple crownvetch is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 25 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–September.

48states
25of our state lists
52,899U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

🏅
Pennsylvania's official state beautification and conservation plant since 1982. Visit the Pennsylvania page → 71 P.S. § 1010.2 (Act of June 17, 1982, P.L. 526, No. 150) The law names the ‘Penngift’ variety of crownvetch (listed there as Coronilla varia).
🚫
Regulated invasive plant in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (Minnesota: Restricted noxious weed (no sale or transport); Wisconsin: Restricted invasive species (as Coronilla varia); Indiana: Prohibited invasive plant (no sale, gifting or planting) (as Coronilla varia)). Please don't plant or share it there. MN noxious weed list NR 40 312 IAC 18-3-25

Quick look

Securigera varia, commonly known as crownvetch or purple crown vetch, is a low-growing legume vine. It is native to Africa, Asia and Europe and is commonly used throughout the United States and Canada for erosion control, roadside planting and soil rehabilitation. It has become an invasive species in many states of the US.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 48 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–October. iNaturalist
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–October. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.6 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 6,212 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #18 among the 111 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 5,338 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #36 among the 109 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,585 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #32 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist

State flower gift ideas

This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    State flower print

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    Birth-flower necklace

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    Wildflower seed favors

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    Botanical tea towel

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    Pressed-flower frame

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    Flower-garden mug

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (5,039 records)
Bloom time in each of our 25 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
PennsylvaniaIntroducedJune–October6,212
New YorkIntroducedJune–October5,338
MichiganIntroducedJune–September3,585
OhioIntroducedMay–September3,503
IllinoisIntroducedMay–September3,224
MinnesotaIntroducedJune–September3,065
WisconsinIntroducedJune–September3,052
VirginiaIntroducedMay–August2,941
MassachusettsIntroducedJune–September2,661
MarylandIntroducedMay–September2,201
New JerseyIntroducedMay–September1,875
IndianaIntroducedMay–September1,391
VermontIntroducedJune–October1,234
MaineIntroducedJune–October1,233
MissouriIntroducedMay–September1,213
IowaIntroducedJune–September944
West VirginiaIntroducedMay–August859
ConnecticutIntroducedJune–September825
KentuckyIntroducedMay–August821
New HampshireIntroducedJune–September727
KansasIntroducedMay–August636
NebraskaIntroducedfew records403
Rhode IslandIntroducedJune–September345
DelawareIntroducedMay–August273
South DakotaIntroducedfew records213

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. R 299.1028
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. MESA list
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Indiana.
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Iowa. IAC 571-77.3
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in West Virginia.
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kansas.
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in South Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: flowers, fruits, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “In large quantities can cause paralysis or even death” NC State Extension

For petsCan be a problem for horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. NC State Extension

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records purple crownvetch in 48 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Dauphin, Erie, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Snyder, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chemung, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Kings, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Suffolk, Tioga, Ulster, Washington, Westchester, Wyoming, Yates.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alpena, Benzie, Berrien, Clinton, Delta, Genesee, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Leelanau, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oakland, Oceana, Shiawassee, Washtenaw.

More Pennsylvania flowers

White clover (Trifolium repens)

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Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

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🌼 Blooms in PA: May–October
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Eastern redbud

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🌼 Blooms in PA: April–May

Sources