Centrosema virginianum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sen-TROH-seem-uh vir-jin-ee-AN-um
- Description
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An herbaceous perennial with a wide native range, growing from the tropical and subtropical Americas up to the eastern US. In NC, it can be found in pine forests and coastal uplands. It grows by either trailing along the ground or twining around vertical structures.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Centrosema
- Species:
- virginianum
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- A flat pod.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Purple 1.5 in Clitoria-like flowers with a white central spot. Blooms throughout summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternately arranged compound leaves with three leaflets each.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Thin, flexible stems that allow the plant to trail and climb.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
