Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp] is adapted to well-drained soils and is also drought tolerant. It is primarily used as a pulse crop. It is such a versatile crop with multiple uses [i.e., vegetable crop (both for the green young leaves, shoots and the green peas)], cover crop, and also as forage. Little information is available on its adaptation to heavy clay soils. The objective of this research was to characterize 25 cowpea pure lines for seedling vigor (i.e., plant height), dry pod yield, forage dry matter (DM) and tolerance to high pH soils (pH>7.5). Replicated field studies were conducted on a mildly alkaline Fredensborg clay (fine carbonatic, isohyperthermic, Typic Rendolls, Mollisol) in 2000. Average plant height ranged from 24 to 62-cm at 56-d after planting. Days to floral initiation ranged from 36 to 62-d after planting, indicating a high variability among lines. Pod yield differed (P<0.05) among lines, with highest pod yield for line IT97K-437-8 (450 kg ha"1). Forage yield also differed among lines (P<0.05) with DM yields exceeding 3,500 kg ha"1 for line IT90K-277-2. Twelve lines exhibited high seedling vigor, excellent forage and seed yield, and low symptoms of iron deficiency. These were selected for further evaluation.