purple crown-vetch USDA PLANTS Symbol: SEVA4
U.S. Nativity: Exotic
Habit: Forbs/Herbs Vines
Securigera varia (L.) Lassen
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Fabales: Fabaceae
Synonym(s): purple crownvetch, trailing crown vetch
Native Range: Europe (BAIL);
Appearance
Securigera varia is a low-growing, herbaceous vine that usually forms thickets up to 3 ft. (0.9 m) in height.
Foliage
The leaves are dark green pinnately compound with 9 to 25 pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet. Leaflets are 0.75 in. (1.9 cm) long.
Flowers
Flowering occurs in the summer. The pea-like, fragrant flowers are white to pink to purple and resemble a large clover flower because they are found in long-stalked clusters.
Fruit
Seed pods are segmented, pointed, borne in crown-like clusters. The straw colored seeds are less than 0.3 in. (0.9 cm) long, round, flat, and winged.
Ecological Threat
Securigera varia reproduces and spreads rapidly by rhizomes as well as seeds. It forms dense thickets in open, disturbed areas such as fields and roadsides. Once established it is difficult to remove. Securigera varia is native to Europe, Asia and Africa. It was first introduced into North America around the 1950s and has been widely planted for erosion control.
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
Selected Images from Invasive.orgView All Images at Invasive.org


Flower(s);
UAF Cooperative Extension , University of Alaska - Fairbanks, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Flower(s); close-up of flower clusters
Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service (retired), Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage;
Ohio State Weed Lab , The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage;
Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Flower(s);
Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Flower(s);
Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org 		 


State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.
U.S. National Parks where reported invasive:
Antietam National Battlefield (Maryland)
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Virginia)
Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina)
Catoctin Mountain Park (Maryland)
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (Maryland, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia)
Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina & Tennessee)
Petersburg National Battlefield (Virginia)
Stones River National Battlefield (Tennessee)


Invasive Listing Sources:
City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council
Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council
Maryland Cooperative Extension Service.  2003. Invasive Plant Control in Maryland. Home and Garden Information Center, Home and Garden Mimeo HG88. 4 pp.
Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2008
Non-Native Invasive Plants of Arlington County, Virginia
Non-Native Invasive Plants of the City of Alexandria, Virginia
South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council
Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
West Virginia Native Plant Society, Flora West Virginia Project, and West Virginia Curatorial Database System, September 3, 1999