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Recent studies in Southern Africa have shown the potential of indigenous N₂-fixing legumes to improve soil productivity and reclaim nutrient-depleted fields abandoned by smallholder farmers. We evaluated the emergence and growth patterns of twelve selected species under smallholder farm conditions in Zimbabwe. Species, mostly of the genera Crotalaria, Indigofera and Tephrosia were broadcasted in mixtures at 120 seeds m^-2 species^-1 in the 2004/05 and 2005/06 rainfall seasons under low (450-650 mm yr^-1) to high (>800 mm yr^-1) rainfall areas. Crotalaria pallida and C. ochroleuca were the first to emerge within 14 days from seeding while other species had late emergence which was spread over two months. Eriosema ellipticum, Crotalaria ochroleuca and C. pallida had the highest emergence above 15% compared with lowest values of >10% for Tephrosia radicans and Indigofera astragalina. Low …