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giant vetch
ExplorePlants
giant vetch
Vicia gigantea
Giant vetch is a climbing plant with beautiful purple flowers. It grows in many places and helps make the soil healthy by adding nutrients.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The giant vetch has robust, scrambling stems that climb high, adorned with many oval, paired leaves. Its clusters of pea-like flowers range from pale pink to purplish-blue, often with darker veins, making them visually distinct against the green foliage.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusVicia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's a cousin to peas and beans, part of the same big plant family!
Its scientific name, Vicia gigantea, literally means 'giant vetch'!
Some people eat its young leaves in salads, tasting a bit like spinach!
The word 'vetch' comes from an old Latin word meaning 'to bind'!
Special abilities
Ability
Soil Power-Up
Giant vetch can take nitrogen from the air and put it into the soil, acting like a natural fertilizer for nearby plants.
Ability
Explosive Seeds
When its seed pods dry, they can twist and pop open, flinging seeds far away to find new places to grow.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 100-300 cm
- Spread
- 50-200 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late Spring to Summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Bumblebees visit its flowers for nectar and pollen.
eaten by
Elk
Cervus canadensis
Elk browse on the leaves and stems of giant vetch.
symbiotic with
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Tiny bacteria in its roots help it make its own fertilizer.
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Honey bees are frequent visitors to its nectar-rich flowers.
Traits
Climbing/Vine
Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always check with an adult before touching plants, just to be safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is giant vetch?
100-300 cm
How wide does giant vetch spread?
50-200 cm
How big are the flowers on giant vetch?
1-2 cm
When does giant vetch bloom?
Late Spring to Summer
Is giant vetch edible?
Yes
Is giant vetch toxic?
None
What is giant vetch's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is giant vetch pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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