Quercus

Hairy Vetch

Vicia villosa

Not native to Georgia

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  • Carolina Vetch
    Vicia caroliniana

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • American Groundnut
    Apios americana

    Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, bloom season

  • Cleavers
    Galium aparine

    Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, bloom season

More natives for your garden

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Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

17CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including GA

Genus host records with ranges including GA · Vicia

  • Anicla illapsaSnowy Dart
  • Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
  • Caenurgia chlorophaVetch Looper Moth
  • Cecropterus pyladesNorthern Cloudywing
  • Colias eurythemeOrange Sulphur, Alfalfa Butterfly
  • Colias philodiceClouded Sulphur, Clover Butterfly
  • Cupido comyntasEastern Tailed-Blue
  • Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
  • Eurema dairaBarred Yellow, Barred Sulphur
  • Gesta baptisiaeWild Indigo Duskywing, Baptisia Duskywing
Show all 17
  • Glaucopsyche lygdamusSilvery Blue
  • Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
  • Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
  • Mocis latipesSmall Mocis, Striped Grass Looper
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
  • Urbanus proteusLong-Tailed Skipper, Bean Leaf Roller
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
1Specialist beesPollen specialists
10BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Vicia

  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Colinus virginianusNorthern Bobwhite
  • Columbina passerinaCommon Ground Dove
  • Cyrtonyx montezumaeMontezuma Quail
  • Francolinus francolinusBlack Francolin
  • Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
  • Oreortyx pictusMountain Quail
  • Perdix perdixGray Partridge
  • Zenaida macrouraMourning Dove
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Fabaceae
Soil pH
Neutral
Flower color
Blue or purple
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Single crown
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Spring
Fruit ends
Summer

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
  • Bloom · “Early spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Flower color · “Blue or purple” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Growth habit · “Single crown” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Height · “1–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Leaf retention · “Deciduous” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
  • Life cycle · “Annual or biennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Soil pH · “Neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Spread · “1–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as

Fodder Vetch; Winter Vetch

Conservation status

Georgia rankNot available
Global rankG5
GA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources