Cowpea
Vigna unguiculata
- Native to:
- Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Palau, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Roemj9999
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Vigna
- Species:
- Vigna unguiculata
- USDA Symbol:
- VIUN
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 80 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, yellow, pink, purple
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Caribbean pod borer (Fundella pellucens), Ancylostomia stercorea, Argyrogramma verruca, Bean pod borer (Maruca vitrata), bean shoot borer (Eucosma aporema), black-shaded platynota (Platynota flavedana), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra), lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), Old Man Dart (Agrotis vetusta), Omiodes Leafroller (Omiodes simialis), pannaria wave (Leptostales pannaria), Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Soybean Looper (Pseudoplusia includens), Trachylepidia fructicassiella, Ufa rubedinella, velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis), Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy to loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to semi-arid regions; tolerates drought
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm soil above 65°F. Direct sow after last frost.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI