tufted vetch
ExplorePlants
tufted vetch
Vicia cracca
Tufted vetch is a lovely plant with pretty purple flowers that grow in clusters. It loves to climb and can often be found in fields and along roadsides, making the world a little more colorful!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The tufted vetch has slender stems and feathery, grey-green leaves. It produces dense clusters of vibrant purplish-blue, pea-like flowers, which are distinctive for their intense colour and upright arrangement on one side of the stem.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusVicia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Bumblebees love its nectar, helping carry its pollen far and wide.
It's a super climber, reaching high with curly tendrils!
Its tiny seeds pop out of pods like miniature rockets!
Vetch was once grown for animal food and to make soil healthy.
Special abilities
Ability
Nitrogen Power
Tufted vetch has special roots that team up with tiny bacteria to add super-food nitrogen to the soil, making it healthier.
Ability
Climbing Crew
Tufted vetch can sprout strong tendrils that wrap around other plants, helping it climb up high for precious sunlight.
Ability
Seed Slingers
Tufted vetch has seed pods that explosively burst open, flinging seeds away to find new places to grow.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 50-200 cm
- Spread
- 30-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.8-1.2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to late summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
Collects nectar and pollen
eaten by
Tufted Vetch Aphid
Aphis craccae
Feeds on plant sap
symbiotic with
Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Lives in its root nodules
depends on
Stinging Nettle
Urtica dioica
Climbs on its sturdy stems
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.
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
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.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is tufted vetch?
50-200 cm
How wide does tufted vetch spread?
30-100 cm
How big are the flowers on tufted vetch?
0.8-1.2 cm
When does tufted vetch bloom?
Late spring to late summer
Is tufted vetch edible?
Yes
Is tufted vetch toxic?
None
What is tufted vetch's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is tufted vetch pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Park40 sightings8 species
British Columbia, CA
Moyie Lake Provincial Park
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Park14 sightings4 species
British Columbia, CA
Grohman Narrows Provincial Park
You might spot Painted Turtle, Solomon's Plume, and Saskatoon.
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Park5 sightings4 species
British Columbia, CA
Ryan Provincial Park
You might spot Orange Hawkweed, Shinyleaf Meadowsweet, and Columbia Lily.
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