What is Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) and who is it for?
Calopogonium caeruleum is a creeping perennial legume recognised as one of the strongest shade-tolerant legume cover crops for tropical plantation systems. It tolerates very acid soils and persists under mature canopy where other species thin out; Tropical Forages records 1 to 1.5 t DM/ha/yr under mature oil palm at 10% light. No single species-specific annual fixation rate is published for CC from verified evidence (one Papua New Guinea oil palm survey estimated 28 to 75 percent of its nitrogen from fixation). CC is particularly suited for mature shaded rubber, cacao and tree-crop systems on well-drained sites. It has more limited published agronomic data than PJ or MB, which is worth noting when choosing species.
Quick facts: Calopogonium caeruleum (CC)
| Scientific name | Calopogonium caeruleum |
|---|---|
| Growth habit | Creeping perennial legume |
| Recommended seeding rate (sown alone) | 5 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue); mixture quantities are set on the quotation |
| Soil | Tolerates very acid soils |
| Shade tolerance | High (1 to 1.5 t DM/ha/yr under mature oil palm at 10% light, Tropical Forages) |
| Drought tolerance | Moderate |
| Annual N fixation rate | No verified species-specific rate |
| N from the air (Ndfa) | 28 to 75% in one PNG oil palm survey (Pipai et al. 2023) |
| Time to ground cover | Slow; may take up to 20 months to cover fully (PROSEA 4) |
Product details
PLANT CHARACTER
Perennial, twining legume supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia). Stems become woody with age. Rooting in nodes when in contact with moist soil.
Growth: Spreads via stolons under favourable conditions.
USES
Green manure, nitrogen fixation, weed suppression and erosion control under tree crops. Calopogonium caeruleum is one of the most shade-tolerant tropical legumes, staying productive across 60 to 100% light transmission and persisting under mature canopy where other covers thin out. Its shade tolerance and persistence make it especially well suited to oil palm feeder roads and harvest paths, where it holds the verges and controls weeds along access routes. In a Nigerian green-manure screening it gave the second-highest effect among 12 legumes tested (Tropical Forages, CIAT and ILRI). We do not publish an annual nitrogen figure for this species: no single species-specific annual fixation rate is published from verified evidence (one Papua New Guinea oil palm study estimated 28 to 75% of its nitrogen from fixation; Pipai et al. 2023), and the fertiliser-nitrogen-equivalent value sometimes quoted for it carries no primary citation. We would rather say that than publish a number we cannot stand behind. For optimal germination, pair with Seed Activator.
GROWTH HABIT
Tolerates heavy shade. Grows in soils with pH as low as 4.0. More drought tolerant but slower to establish than CM and PJ. May take 20 months to achieve a complete cover (PROSEA 4, 1992). Compare species performance in our cover crop comparison guide.
SEEDING RATE
Recommended seeding rate (sown alone): 5 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue). This rate is for CC sown alone. For a mixture, the quantity of each species is set on the quotation for your site.
PLANTING METHOD
Drilled or planted in holes
DRY MATTER PRODUCTION
3 to 7 t/ha/year in the open; 1 to 1.5 t/ha/year under mature oil palm at about 10% light (Tropical Forages, CIAT and ILRI 2020)
NO. OF SEEDS/KG
20,000 to 50,000 seeds (Tropical Forages, CIAT and ILRI 2020)
SUPPLIED BY CHEMISEED SDN. BHD.
Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) cover crop seeds are supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian supplier of legume cover crop seed and soil conditioners to plantations since 2003. Chemiseed holds valid export permits. Where the destination country requires one, consignments travel with a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA) for export. Import permits and admissibility in the destination country remain the buyer's responsibility. For bulk enquiries, contact Chemiseed directly.
AVAILABILITY: WORLDWIDE ON REQUEST
We supply buyers worldwide on request, from Malaysia. Contact Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. for a quotation and export logistics.
Related Resources
- Cover Crop Comparison: PJ, CM, CP, MB
- Best Cover Crop for Oil Palm
- Best Cover Crop for Rubber
- Cover Crop Calculator
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Seed Activator, Boost Germination
Related Articles
Read more from the Chemiseed agronomic knowledge base:
How to Order
Small quantities / Retail: For single packs and smaller quantities, shop our retail stores on Shopee and TikTok Shop.
Bulk / Estate: For plantation-scale orders, request a quotation. Minimum order and lead time are confirmed on the quotation.
Export / International: We supply buyers worldwide on request. Contact us for CIF or FOB terms and export documentation.
Marketplace: Retail packs available on Shopee Malaysia and TikTok Shop.
Plan with our free calculators
Estimate the nitrogen this cover crop can contribute with the Nitrogen Fixation Calculator, model erosion control with the Soil Erosion Calculator, or work out the seed quantity with the Cover Crop Calculator. Browse all our plantation tools.
Related guide: Calopogonium caeruleum cover crop guide, or see the complete cover crops guide.
Last reviewed June 2026 by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd.
Research findings
By the numbers
Each figure below is reported by the source named beneath it, chiefly the Tropical Forages (CIAT and ILRI) species factsheet. They are reference-work values, not performance guarantees for Chemiseed seed.
Calopogonium caeruleum seeds are supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. to buyers worldwide on request. View the Tropical Forages factsheet
What does the research say about Calopogonium caeruleum (CC)?
- Tropical Forages (CIAT and ILRI 2020) CC profile: 3 to 7 t DM/ha/yr in the open and 1 to 1.5 t DM/ha/yr under mature oil palm at 10% light.
- PROSEA 4 (1992): CC may take up to 20 months to cover fully.
- Han and Chew (1982): in oil palm inter-rows in Malaysia, CC was slow to establish but grew vigorously after establishment.
- Pipai et al. (2023), Plant and Soil 491: one 2012 survey of oil palm plantations in Papua New Guinea estimated 28 to 75% of CC nitrogen from fixation.
Where does Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) work best?
Best for
- Mature shaded rubber plantations
- Shaded tree-crop systems (cacao, coconut)
- Very acid soils
- Well-drained sites under closed canopy
- Long-term persistent shade cover
Not ideal for
- Waterlogged or poorly drained sites
- Full-sun situations requiring fast initial cover
- Sites where rapid establishment is the priority
What Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) will not do
CC performs best on well-drained sites and is not recommended for waterlogged or poorly drained conditions. The published agronomic data for CC is more limited compared to better-studied species like PJ and MB. Establishment is moderate to slow, so CC is not the best choice when rapid initial ground cover is the primary objective. For fast cover, combine CC with CM as a pioneer species.
How to establish and use Calopogonium caeruleum (CC)
Recommended seeding rate (sown alone): 5 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue). This rate is for CC sown alone. For a mixture, the quantity of each species is set on the quotation for your site. CC is best established on well-drained sites under partial to full shade. For sites needing both fast initial cover and long-term shade persistence, combine CC with CM (fast pioneer) and PJ. CC is most valuable in mature plantation systems where the canopy has closed and other cover crops have begun to thin.
Documents and limitations
Documents available
Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Certificate of Analysis (COA) with germination data, Safety Data Sheet (SDS) where applicable, and, for export, a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA) are available on request. Seed lots are germination- and purity-tested to ISTA and AOSA methods.
Limitations and site considerations
Field results depend on crop system, soil, rainfall, planting method, seed quality, storage, timing, and post-establishment management. Adjust recommendations to local conditions, and contact us before ordering if you are unsure about crop fit, application rate, or site suitability.
Seeding a slope or embankment?
On road cuttings, embankments and riverbanks, lay coconut fibre net (coir netting) over the seeded slope so heavy rain does not wash the seed away before it establishes. The net and this seed can go on one quotation.
How to order
- Tell us about your siteYour crop, total area in hectares and delivery location.
- We recommendThe right product, rate and the documents you need.
- You get a quotationPrice, minimum order, lead time and dispatch are confirmed on it.
What to include in your inquiry
To prepare your quotation, please include:
- Your plantation crop (rubber, cacao, coconut, oil palm)
- Canopy density (open, partial, closed)
- Soil drainage conditions
- Soil pH (especially if below 4.5)
- Planting area in hectares
- Whether you plan to use CC alone or in a mixture
- Your location (country and region)
Request a quotation, or contact us via WhatsApp: +60 17-237 4058
Sold by quotation only. Price, minimum order and lead time are confirmed on the quotation.
Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd.
Frequently asked questions about Calopogonium caeruleum (CC)
Why choose Calopogonium caeruleum over other cover crops?
CC is chosen specifically for its strong shade tolerance and ability to persist under closed canopy where other species decline. If your primary challenge is maintaining ground cover in mature shaded plantations, CC is one of the best options available. For young open plantings, faster-establishing species like CM or MB would be more appropriate.
Does Calopogonium caeruleum tolerate very acidic soil?
Yes. CC tolerates very acid soils, which makes it suitable for the strongly acid soils found in many Malaysian plantation regions. Confirm with your soil test.
Where does CC work best?
CC performs best on well-drained sites under partial to heavy shade. It is particularly suited for mature shaded rubber, cacao and tree-crop systems. It is not recommended for waterlogged or poorly drained sites.
Can Calopogonium caeruleum be used in rubber plantations?
Yes. CC is one of the preferred cover crops for mature shaded rubber plantations. As rubber canopy closes, many other legume cover crops thin out, but CC maintains ground cover under these conditions. It adds nitrogen through fixation, suppresses weeds and protects the soil in mature rubber systems.
Plan with our calculators
- Cover Crop Seed Rate Calculator Estimate how much cover crop seed you need for your plantation, by species, area and seeding rate. Open full calculator
- Climate and Soil Suitability Checker Check how well your site's climate suits this product on an interactive map, and add the pH from your own soil test. Open full calculator
