Iron-Clay Cowpea

Vigna unguiculata

Fabaceae (Legume)

The go-to summer legume cover for the South — fixes nitrogen and builds soil through the hottest months.

Cover cropFixes nitrogenBuilds soilHeat-loverDrought-tough

Iron-Clay Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Full sun

Water

Low — drought-tough

Soil

Tolerant, even poor

pH

5.5–7.0

Hardiness

Warm-season annual

Height

1–3 ft

Spacing

Broadcast

Days to harvest

Summer cover

What it is

Iron-Clay Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is in the Fabaceae (Legume) family. The go-to summer legume cover for the South — fixes nitrogen and builds soil through the hottest months.

How to grow it

It wants full sun, water it low — drought-tough, and give it tolerant, even poor soil. Target a soil pH around 5.5–7.0. Space plants about Broadcast apart. Expect roughly Summer cover. Warm-season annual.

How it's used

Iron-Clay Cowpea is used: cover; seed edible.

🔎 How to identify it

Three-leaflet leaves
Pale flowers
Sprawling habit

Edibility

PartsSeed (as southern pea)

UsesCover; seed edible

CautionTerminate before heavy seed set if used as cover.

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.