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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Centrosema virginianum is a PERENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

None known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Green manure Soil stabilization

The plant can be allowed to grow without supports and it will then sprawl over the ground as an effective ground cover[200]. Plants have been grown as a green manure[200]. The plants extensive root system makes it useful for stabilizing soils and controlling erosion[200].

Special Uses

Ground cover Nitrogen Fixer

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any sandy or loamy soil in a sunny position[200]. Tolerant of poor acid soils, dry soils and drought[200]. A climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around other plants[200]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in a greenhouse in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (New Jersey, Pennsylvania (Bucks Co.), Missouri (Shannon Co.), Oklahoma (east), Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky (Wayne Co.), Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas), Mexico (Coahuila de Zaragoza, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Campeche, Chiapas, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Montserrat, Martinique, United States (Puerto Rico), St. Vincent and Grenadines, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Suriname, Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro), Colombia (Antioquia, Boyacá, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Huila, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca), Ecuador (Guayas, Loja), Peru (Apurímac, Cajamarca, Cusco, La Libertad), Argentina (Córdoba, Catamarca, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, Misiones, Salta, Santa Fe, Tucumán), Paraguay, Uruguay

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Centrosema pubescens	Centro, Butterfly pea	Perennial Climber	0.5	10-12	F	LMH	FSN	MWe	0	0	3

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Centrosema virginianum - (L.)Benth.