Crownvetch

Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

Securigera varia

Introduced weed · not on state Lists A/B/C. C-floristic-2020 CO-rules-2025

Toxic to horses; spreading roots can smother vegetation. Exposure help.

Identification caveat: Older NC State material uses Coronilla varia; the Colorado assessment uses Securigera varia. This is separate from Vicia species and their distinct feeding hazards.

Still researching this plant

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for Dogs & cats. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.

Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

**habit** — Sprawling crownvetch stems with many pink-and-white flower clusters and pinnate leaves among other vegetation.
Dale Knox · CC0 1.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Explicit iNaturalist observation taxon and Research Grade community identification; photograph visually reviewed for depicted features. This is source identification, not a new independent botanical determination. Source identifies this plant to species; no variety or subspecies determination is asserted.
Downloaded iNaturalist large rendition; downloaded bytes retained unchanged. No local crop, retouching, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

**flowers** — Pink-and-white crownvetch flowers grouped in a rounded cluster beside a compound leaf.
Eleftherios Katsillis · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Explicit iNaturalist observation taxon and Research Grade community identification; photograph visually reviewed for depicted features. This is source identification, not a new independent botanical determination. Source identifies this plant to species; no variety or subspecies determination is asserted.
Downloaded iNaturalist large rendition; downloaded bytes retained unchanged. No local crop, retouching, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

**leaves** — Arching crownvetch leaves with numerous paired oval leaflets and a terminal leaflet, seen against the sky.
Eleftherios Katsillis · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Explicit iNaturalist observation taxon and Research Grade community identification; photograph visually reviewed for depicted features. This is source identification, not a new independent botanical determination. Source identifies this plant to species; no variety or subspecies determination is asserted.
Downloaded iNaturalist large rendition; downloaded bytes retained unchanged. No local crop, retouching, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

Identification

A trailing perennial legume with many paired leaflets and rounded clusters of pink-and-white pea flowers. Unlike true vetches, it lacks tendrils. N-securigera-varia F-securigera

People

NC State lists poisonous characteristics and potentially serious ingestion effects. No safe amount is established. N-securigera-varia

Dogs & cats

Sources warn about nonruminants, but reviewed species-specific dog and cat clinical evidence is incomplete. Prevent chewing; cattle forage use cannot be treated as pet clearance. N-securigera-varia F-securigera

Evidence scope: Animal-group evidence; pet-specific gap.

Other animals

Crownvetch contains nitroglycosides toxic to horses. Its use as forage for some ruminants does not make it suitable horse feed. F-securigera

Plants & habitat

It spreads by rhizomes and seed and can form a dense cover that displaces other plants. Former erosion-control use explains many naturalized colonies. N-securigera-varia

Management & timing

Avoid introducing it near natural habitat or horse forage. Established root systems need a sustained local control plan and monitoring. N-securigera-varia F-securigera

Evidence scope: Management synthesis.

Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27

References

C-floristic-2020 — Colorado Floristic Quality Assessment: 2020 Update, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:27:33+00:00. Locator: Appendix B, Colorado species list: scientific name and native/non-native fields.
CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
N-securigera-varia — Securigera varia, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:23:14+00:00. Locator: Description, identification attributes and plant problems; toxicity section where present.
F-securigera — Crownvetch, USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:26:13+00:00. Locator: Named species or genus; identification, distribution and hazard sections where available.
S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.

Content revised 2026-09-07 02:43:00Z · Source checks dated separately in the references.