Wood Vetch Vicia caroliniana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Vicia hugeri
- Phonetic Spelling
- VIS-ee-uh kair-oh-lin-ee-AN-uh
- Description
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Wood vetch is an attractive native, herbaceous perennial, wildflower in the bean family (Fabaceae) native to southeastern Canada and central and eastern United States, including North Carolina. It tends to prefer undisturbed areas and can be easily overlooked.
Wood vetch does best in well-drained, mildly acid soils, but is tolerant of most soil types, including clay. It can grow in full sun or full shade, 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide, with climbing stems that give it a vine-like habit. Propagation is by seeds.
In spring, clusters of light pink to white pea-like flowers can cover the plant. Legumes follow the flowers that explode open to expel their seeds. The pinnately compound leaves are alternate with an entire margin, hairy underside and tend to disappear in late summer. The stem is hollow, hairy, and slightly winged. Unlike some plants in this genus, wood vetch is not weedy.
Wood vetch could be used in a naturalized area or a native pollinator garden, allowing it to twine along other plants or sprawl along the ground.
Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Vicia
- Species:
- caroliniana
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used by Native Americans for a variety of medicinal purposes
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern Canada and Eastern United States.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV Canada: ON
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers. Host plant for Northern Cloudywing butterfly. Seeds may be eaten by songbirds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderate deer resistance.
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Vine
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Seed pods are 1/5 to 1 inch long and explode open to disperse seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Description:
- White, pea-like flowers with pinkish or blue tips appear April through June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are pinnately compound and alternate with an entire margin and hairy underside. They terminate in single or bifurcated tendrils.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is hollow, hairy, and slightly winged.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
