Carolina Vetch
Vicia caroliniana
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Joshua Mayer
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Vicia
- Species:
- Vicia caroliniana
- USDA Symbol:
- VICA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pale lavender
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Parectopa occulta, Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire; common in fire-maintained woodlands and openings.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- moderate moisture
- Notes:
- prefers forested areas with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination; seeds have hard coat typical of legumes.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Mechanical scarification
Establishment: Plant growth is slow and no seed has been set in the field. The plant is commonly found in shady, cool, rich woods and thickets. It can be collected from New York and southern Ontario to Minnesota, south to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
Source: npn.rngr.net