Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Vicia americana (American vetch)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd.

American vetch

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

USDA Symbol: viam

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A slender, climbing plant clinging to other vegetation or structures by slender, coiling tendrils at end of each leaf; loose racemes of 3-10 deep pinkish-purple to reddish-lavender pea flowers on stalks from leaf axils.

With showy flowers unusually large for the genus, this plant resembles many species of Lathyrus but is distinguished by the distribution of the hairs at the tip of the style. In Vicia the hairs usually surround the tip, resembling a shaving brush; in Lathyrus they are generally on the upperside, like a little hairbrush.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , DC , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , MD , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , SD , TX , UT , VA , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: PE
Native Distribution: Throughout West; also in eastern Canada and northeastern United States.
Native Habitat: Open places in woods, road banks, and fencerows.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1994 VOL. 11, NO.6 - Wildflower Center Featured Non-Profit in Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, Dana Leav...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Vicia americana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Vicia americana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Vicia americana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-03-17
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back