# spring vetch (*Lathyrus vernus*) Spring vetch is a lovely flower that blooms in early spring. It has beautiful purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making gardens bright and cheerful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![spring vetch](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dettaglio_-_Leguminosae_Lathyrus_vernus_Bernh._Erbario_Frizzi_Perugia_n._2612.jpg&width=800) Photo: Giuseppe Frizzi, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dettaglio_-_Leguminosae_Lathyrus_vernus_Bernh._Erbario_Frizzi_Perugia_n._2612.jpg) ## Appearance The spring vetch is a low-growing perennial with striking clusters of pea-like flowers. Its blossoms start purplish-red, often fading to a distinct blue as they age. Unlike many vetch species, its leaves are broad leaflets, not tendrils. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Lathyrus ## Interesting facts - Its seeds are hidden in small pods that look like miniature pea pods! - Many cultures once used "vetches" as animal feed long ago. - Spring vetch often grows under trees, soaking up sunshine before the leaves grow too big. - This plant is a cousin to the peas we eat, but don't try to snack on its seeds! ## Special abilities - **Nitrogen Fixer:** Spring vetch has special root nodules that host bacteria, allowing it to pull nitrogen from the air and enrich the soil. - **Color Shifter:** Its vibrant flowers can subtly change color from purple-red to bluish over time, helping older flowers signal they've been pollinated. - **Early Bloomer:** Spring vetch can emerge and flower very early in spring, giving it a head start on collecting sunlight before trees leaf out. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-40 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring (April-June) - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Drinks nectar and collects pollen. - **Pollinates:** Western honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Fixes nitrogen in root nodules. - **Eaten by:** [Roe deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — Browses on its leaves and shoots. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify spring vetch? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is spring vetch? 20-40 cm ### How wide does spring vetch spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on spring vetch? 1-1.5 cm ### When does spring vetch bloom? Early spring (April-June) ### Is spring vetch edible? No ### Is spring vetch toxic? Mild ### What is spring vetch's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Conservatory of Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conservatory-of-flowers) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Goodwin State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goodwin-state-forest) — North Carolina, US · Forest ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Spring Vetch: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spring-vetch)