Perplexed by Penngift Crownvetch: Invasion or Conservation?

Most of us learned in grade school that Pennsylvania's state tree is the hemlock and the state flower is mountain laurel; but did you know that Pennsylvania is the only state that has an official beautification and conservation plant?

Penngift Crownvetch (Coronilla varia L., Penngift) was given this designation by an act of the General Assembly in 1982. This drought-tolerant perennial is winter-hardy and will grow to a height of two to three feet during its blooming period, forming a dense and spreading mat cover. Blooming from June to September, the Penngift Crownvetch produces rose, white, or pinkish-white flowers. Discovered on a Pennsylvania farm in 1935, the Penngift Crownvetch was researched extensively at Penn State University. Since the 1950s, this herbaceous legume has been established along the highways of Pennsylvania, and has proven effective at stabilizing road banks and controlling erosion. The Penngift Crownvetch chokes out other weeds and is very tolerant of low-fertility soils.

Pennsylvania's beautification and conservation plant, however, is not native to Pennsylvania. It is believed to have come to America in the 19th century as an impurity in alfalfa seed, and is native to the Caucuses region of Eurasia and the Mediterranean. Its ability to cover and dominate the areas where it is planted, while making it useful as a ground cover, also gives it the status as an often invasive exotic plant. While still widely available, some states and state agencies have stopped permitting its use.

Today's photo of Penngift Crownvetch is from the State History Guide (SHG) web site. Dr. Fred V. Grau, Jr., who discovered Penngift Crownvetch, spoke to the House Committee on Agriculture in 2002 concerning Penngift Crownvetch as an invasive species. His testimony can be read at The Subcommittee on Operations web site.

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