trefle.io · Taken Mar 4, 2020 by Moschetto gino (cc-by-sa)
Fabaceae
Algerian vetch
Vicia benghalensis
Also known as Vicia atropurpurea var. punicea, Vicia atropurpurea var. tenella, Vicia atropurpurea var. sericea, Monantha vetch
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Vetch · Cover Crop · Nitrogen Fixer · Climbing Legume · Cool Season · Mediterranean Plant · Purple Flowers · Fabaceae · Green Manure · Pollinator
Algerian vetch is a cool-season climbing legume that grows best in full sun to partial shade with average, well-drained soil. It is an excellent cover crop and green manure plant, fixing atmospheric nitrogen and improving soil fertility. Water regularly during establishment, but once settled it tolerates moderate dry spells with little intervention.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings once established · Every 7-14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 3 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Purple
- Foliage
- Green · Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Chile Central, Chile North, Corse, France, Free State, Greece, Italy, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Madeira, Morocco, Northern Provinces, Palestine, Portugal
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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