Bird Vetch
Vicia cracca
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine
Andreas Eichler
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Vicia
- Species:
- Vicia cracca
- USDA Symbol:
- VICR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 180 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, violet, blue
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Anaplectoides pressus, Euagrotis illapsa, Eversmann's rustic (Actebia fennica), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Reverdin's blue (Lycaeides argyrognomon), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black and (Bombus auricomus), Bombus Latreille, Brown-belted bumble (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Confusing bumble (Bombus perplexus), Half-black bumble (Bombus vagans), Northern amber (Bombus borealis), Red-belted bumble (Bombus rufocinctus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble (Bombus affinis), Tri-colored bumble (Bombus ternarius), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), Yellow bumble (Bombus fervidus), Yellow-banded bumble (Bombus terricola)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in meadows and grasslands; prefers nitrogen-rich soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination; seeds have hard seed coat. Can also be soaked in warm water overnight as alternative to mechanical scarification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires soaking 24-48 hrs; discard floaters.