ExplorePlants

hairy vetch

Vicia villosa

Hairy vetch is a climbing plant with fuzzy leaves and pretty purple flowers. It grows in fields and gardens, helping to make the soil healthy and full of nutrients.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The hairy vetch has slender, fuzzy stems that twine and climb. Its feather-like leaves end in grasping tendrils. Bright purplish-blue flowers grow in dense, one-sided clusters along a stalk, making it easy to spot.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusVicia
hairy vetch
climbing trait badgeflowering trait badgenitrogen_fixing trait badgebiennial trait badge
hairy vetch

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Farmers sometimes plant it as "green manure" to improve farm soil.

Its name comes from the fuzzy hairs covering its stems and leaves!

The tendrils act like tiny grappling hooks, helping it cling tightly.

Vetch seeds can stay hidden in the soil for many years before sprouting!

Special abilities

Ability

Nitrogen Factory

Special root nodules host bacteria that convert air's nitrogen into food for the plant and enrich the soil.

Ability

Soil Saver

Its deep roots help to break up compacted soil and prevent erosion, making the ground healthier.

Measurements & details

Height
30-200 cm
Spread
30-100 cm
Flower Size
1-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to early summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Collects nectar and pollen from its purple flowers.

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

A vital pollinator, helping flowers create seeds.

symbiotic with

Soil Bacteria

Rhizobium leguminosarum

Lives in roots, helping the vetch get nitrogen from air.

eats

Black Bean Aphid

Aphis fabae

Feeds on sap, often found in clusters on young shoots.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or picking plants in nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is hairy vetch?

30-200 cm

How wide does hairy vetch spread?

30-100 cm

How big are the flowers on hairy vetch?

1-1.5 cm

When does hairy vetch bloom?

Late spring to early summer

Is hairy vetch edible?

Yes

Is hairy vetch toxic?

None

What is hairy vetch's lifecycle?

Annual

How is hairy vetch pollinated?

Insect

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Where to spot

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