Fabaceae
Vicia americana var. americana
Vicia americana var. americana var. americana
Also known as Vicia durbrowii, Vicia americana var. truncata, Vicia perangusta var. latiuscula, Vicia pumila
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · American Vetch · Native · Legume · Nitrogen Fixing · Vining · Fabaceae · Purple Flowers · Woodland Edge · Perennial · Pollinator
American vetch is a native climbing perennial legume that fixes nitrogen and produces attractive purple-blue flowers in spring and early summer. It thrives in part shade to full sun with average moisture and is an excellent choice for naturalizing in woodland edges or native plant gardens. Once established, it spreads by rhizomes and requires minimal maintenance.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately to keep soil evenly moist; allow surface to dry slightly between waterings · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.9–7.2
- Temperature
- -40°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 3a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 2 ft – 5 ft
- Spread
- 12 in
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Purple
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, District Of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Manitoba, Maryland, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Michigan
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Sources: trefle, usda
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