Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca is a non-native California perennial in the Fabaceae family.
Mediterranean crown vetch is a naturalized perennial shrub found in coastal and inland areas expected to occur below 400 meters elevation. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in compact clusters with 4 to 10 blooms. Growing as a small shrub to one meter tall with multiple stems, it features delicate branching and compact growth. Its leaves have 4 to 6 obovate leaflets, each less than 20 millimeters long and slightly notched at the tip. The fruit develops as a slender, compressed pod one to five centimeters long with multiple segments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated waif in PR bioregion
Habitat and range
Habitat: waif
Elevation: < 400 m
Outside California: native to Mediterranean region, especially southern Portugal
Bloom period
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Acmispon: Coronilla umbels have 10-20 flowers; Acmispon umbels have 1-8 flowers.; vs Ornithopus: Coronilla has 10-20 flowers per cluster; Ornithopus has small few-flowered clusters.; vs Oxytropis: Coronilla flowers in dense 10-20-flowered umbels; Oxytropis in loose spike-like clusters.; vs Astragalus: Coronilla has umbellate clusters, segmented pods; Astragalus has spike clusters, splitting pods.; vs Peteria: Coronilla lacks spines, has large umbels; Peteria has spiny stipules, fewer flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca native to California?
No. Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca bloom?
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca belong to?
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca is in the Fabaceae family, genus Coronilla.
What habitat does Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca grow in?
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca grows in waif.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.