Wondering Cowpea: What You Should Know About This Non-Native Legume
If you’ve stumbled across the name wondering cowpea in your gardening research, you might be scratching your head—and for good reason! This plant, scientifically known as Vigna speciosa, is something of a botanical mystery with limited information available to home gardeners.
What Is Wondering Cowpea?
Wondering cowpea is a perennial forb (non-woody herbaceous plant) that belongs to the legume family. As a member of the Vigna genus, it’s related to other cowpeas and beans, though it has carved out its own unique niche in the plant world.
This plant also goes by the botanical synonym Phaseolus speciosus, which you might encounter in older gardening literature or plant databases.
Where Does It Grow?
Currently, wondering cowpea has established itself in Florida and Hawaii, where it reproduces spontaneously in the wild without human intervention. However, it’s important to note that this species is non-native to both locations—it’s an introduced plant that has naturalized in these warm climates.
Should You Plant Wondering Cowpea?
Here’s where things get tricky. While wondering cowpea isn’t currently listed as invasive or noxious, there’s surprisingly little information available about this species for home gardeners. This lack of data makes it difficult to recommend for several reasons:
- Unknown growth habits and mature size
- Unclear growing requirements and care needs
- Limited understanding of its ecological impact
- Uncertain benefits to pollinators and wildlife
Consider Native Alternatives Instead
Given the limited information about wondering cowpea and its non-native status, you might want to consider native legumes that can provide similar benefits with better-understood characteristics:
- For Florida gardeners: Consider native wild beans like coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) or native Vigna species if available
- For Hawaiian gardeners: Explore native Hawaiian legumes that support local ecosystems
What We Do Know
As a perennial legume, wondering cowpea likely shares some common traits with its relatives:
- Probably fixes nitrogen in the soil, potentially benefiting surrounding plants
- May attract pollinators if it produces flowers
- Likely thrives in warm, subtropical to tropical conditions (USDA zones 9-11 based on its current distribution)
The Bottom Line
While wondering cowpea isn’t necessarily harmful, the lack of available growing information makes it a questionable choice for most home gardeners. Instead of wondering about this wondering cowpea, why not explore well-documented native alternatives that can provide known benefits to your local ecosystem?
If you’re determined to learn more about Vigna speciosa, consider reaching out to your local extension office or botanical garden—they might have additional insights about this somewhat mysterious plant.
