Vicia sativa L.
Common Vetch
Common vetch is a scrambling annual of the pea family, climbing through grasses and other plants with tendrils at the ends of its paired-leaflet leaves. Its pea-flowers are a bright pink to reddish-purple and are typically borne singly or in pairs tucked into the leaf axils, followed by slender pods that ripen and split to scatter the seed.
About
Common vetch is a scrambling annual of the pea family, climbing through grasses and other plants with tendrils at the ends of its paired-leaflet leaves. Its pea-flowers are a bright pink to reddish-purple and are typically borne singly or in pairs tucked into the leaf axils, followed by slender pods that ripen and split to scatter the seed. It is a variable plant divided into several subspecies, of which some are regarded as native, mainly coastal forms, while others are long-established relics of cultivation.
It is widespread across Britain on grassy banks, field margins, verges, rough and disturbed ground, particularly on dry, sandy and free-draining soils in full sun. Flowering from spring through summer, the blooms are visited by bumblebees and other bees, and as a nitrogen-fixing legume it has long been grown for fodder and green manure. It features in green-manure and pollinator seed mixes valued for quick cover and soil improvement.
Also known as
Garden Vetch · Infield Narrow-leaf Vetch · Narrowleaf Vetch · Pebble-vetch · Spring Vetch · Tare · Vetch · kurehernes
Synonyms
Vicia alba · Vicia angustifolia · Vicia angustifolia pusilla · Vicia angustifolia sativa · Vicia bobartii · Vicia cornigera · Vicia cuneata · Vicia erythosperma · Vicia incisa · Vicia maculata · Vicia melanosperma · Vicia nemoralis
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.