Cowhage Mucuna pruriens

Velvetbean is a tropical, annual climber in the bean family (Fabaceae). It is native to tropical Africa and Asia, but it has naturalized throughout the American Tropics and parts of Australia. It is cultivated throughout warm regions of the world as a cover crop and forage plant. The species epithet is Latin for “irritating” and refers to the irritating hairs on the fruits.

As a summer cover crop, velvet bean is very good at weed suppression, growing rapidly in a wide variety of soil types. It fixes nitrogen and improves soil fertility. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil pH levels, of heat and humidity. Velvetbean is intolerant of frost. 

Dwarf “bush” cultivars are available and are sometimes easier to manage than the vigorous vining kinds. Velvetbean may be useful in suppressing certain kinds of nematodes, such as the southern root-knot nematode.

Use velvetbean as a spring-sown, summer cover crop. To avoid the irritating hairs on the fruits, cut down the crop at the time of flowering.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Velvetbean hosts the velvetbean caterpillar and kudzu bug, both of which can damage soybeans.