Garden Vetch
Vicia sativa
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Western Sahara, Yemen
Didier Descouens
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Vicia
- Species:
- Vicia sativa
- USDA Symbol:
- VISA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 80 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple, violet
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Dargida procinctus, Garden Tiger Moth (Arctia caja), Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra), pea moth (Cydia nigricana), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus), Western Sulphur (Colias occidentalis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers nutrient-rich soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination rates. Seeds germinate readily in warm soil conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI