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Scientific Name:
Vicia cracca
Pronunciation:
VISS-ee-uh KRAY-kuh
Common Name:
tufted vetch, bird vetch
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial, Invasive plant, Vine or climber, Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Aggressive choking weed; leaves compound, pinnate with linear leaflets, tendrils at leaf ends; inflorescence a raceme, florets violet to purple, narrow; fruit a small brown legume.

Habit:
Spreading
Form:
Climbing
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
2 - 3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Additional Info:

Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Even-pinnate
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Obtuse
Bases:
Obtuse
Margins:
Entire

Inflorescence Type:
Raceme, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Bilabiate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Violet
Flower Scent:
Spicy, Sweet
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Fruit Type:
Legume
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug, Sep

Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes, Root nodules (N-fixing), Tendrils
Propagation:
Seed
Maintenance:
Low

Course(s):
  • HORT 1155
Location(s):
  • (WDY)  WeeDY location
Location Map