Fabaceae
Tephrosia villosa
Hoary Tephrosia
H
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
Hoary Tephrosia is an annual or perennial bushy herb, growing 0.3-1.3 metres tall, with stems and leaves densely covered in soft white hairs. It features imparipinnately compound leaves with 7-19 hairy leaflets and small, pea-like purple flowers borne in terminal or axillary racemes. The plant produces strongly curved, silvery or brown-tomentose pods containing 4-10 seeds.
Where it works in Kilifi
This species thrives in full, direct sunlight and prefers well-draining sandy or loamy soils. It is well-suited for restoration projects, erosion control, or as an annual cover crop in dry, open areas on the Kilifi coast.
Growing notes
Relatively easy to care for, Hoary Tephrosia is tolerant of dry conditions once established, but benefits from occasional watering when the soil has almost completely dried out. It has low fertiliser requirements and does not need frequent pruning. Note that the plant is toxic to livestock and can be used as a fish poison.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: earthone.io, worldagroforestry.org, flowersofindia.net, prota4u.org, kew.org, iisc.ac.in. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.