Bloomipedia
Wild cowpea (Vigna luteola)
Photo: Clay Gibbons via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Wild cowpea

Vigna luteola

Native to Florida

Wild cowpea is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in January–December.

10states
3,706FL sightings*
5,280U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Vigna luteola, commonly known as the hairy cowpea and the Nile bean, is a perennial vine found in many tropical and subtropical areas.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. NatureServe
  • In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–December. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,706 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #74 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist

Wild cowpea gift ideas

Handmade wild cowpea gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in January–December.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (211 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (S2), SC (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records wild cowpea in 10 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.

Florida counties with USDA records: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Volusia.

More Florida flowers

Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

Partridge pea

Chamaecrista fasciculata

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🌼 Blooms in FL: April–October
Eastern coral bean (Erythrina herbacea)

Eastern coral bean

Erythrina herbacea

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: February–May
Butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum)

Butterfly pea

Centrosema virginianum

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: April–October

Sources