Ebony Cowpea

We recommend Ebony Cowpeas. They are resistant to stem rot races 3 and 4 of the severe root rot fungus Phytophthora vignae. They are also listed as tolerant of waterlogging and suit sandy through to heavy soils with a pH of 4.0–7.0. Inoculate with Group I and sow once soil temperatures reach around 16–18°C.

Ebony Cowpeas need a higher seeding rate under irrigation than on dryland. Our catalogue lists 10–14 kg/ha dryland and 20–30 kg/ha irrigated, but our 2026 guide gives a different single rate. The best rate also depends on soil moisture and whether you sow them in a mix, so please check with us before ordering.

Ebony Cowpeas are a good choice, because they are a legume with no prussic acid issues, unlike sorghums. They are highly palatable and nutritious, and they are commonly grown with our Bounty Sorghum or Shirohie Millet to lift protein and dilute the grass. Cowpeas are generally a low bloat risk, but introduce stock gradually.

With Ebony Cowpeas, the main risks of late sowing are bean fly attack at the 2–3 leaf stage and frost. Ebony is frost susceptible, so a late crop may be cut short in autumn. Sow into warm soil with good moisture, inoculate with Group I, and monitor seedlings closely for bean fly.

For Ebony Cowpeas, sow 3–5cm deep in 18–35cm rows to target 9–13 plants per m². Wider rows give livestock better access and cut down trampling losses. The seed is large, at about 5,000 per kg, so check that your seeder handles it. Inoculate with Group I and wait for soil temperatures of about 16–18°C.

We recommend mixing Ebony Cowpeas with forage sorghum or millet. The cowpea's higher protein content adds quality to hay and silage, and the legume fixes nitrogen for the next crop. Ebony has a long production season and good drought tolerance. Our Bounty Sorghum and Shirohie Millet are both good partners for it.

Yes, Ebony Cowpeas suit a pH range of 4.0–7.0, so they handle moderately acidic soils. They adapt to a wide range of soil types, from sands to heavy soils, and are listed as waterlogging tolerant. Inoculate with Group I so nodulation works well. Nodulation can be weaker in very acid soils, so lime if your soil test suggests it.

Ebony Cowpeas are an excellent summer green manure. They fix nitrogen when inoculated with Group I, and they condition the soil ahead of your winter crop. They are quick to establish, drought tolerant and adapted to many soil types. Terminate them before they set seed and allow time for the residue to break down before sowing.

We recommend Ebony Cowpeas, which have a long production season compared with quicker summer legumes. They are palatable and nutritious, drought tolerant, and have no prussic acid issues. Graze them lightly so they can regrow, and use the feed before frost, which Ebony is susceptible to. Wider rows help cattle graze with less trampling.

Both have good drought tolerance. We generally lean towards Ebony Cowpeas where root rot or wetter patches are a concern, and towards Buff where quick flowering and seed yield matter. Ebony's rainfall requirement differs between our catalogue and 2026 guide, so talk to us about your district's summer rainfall before choosing.