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Herbaceous Perennial

Vicia cracca

common tufted vetch

A scrambling perennial climbing with leaf tendrils to around 1.5m. The leaves have many pairs of green leaflets in a ladder-like arrangement, the last two of which are tendrils instead. Flowers consist of many of small purple-blue pea-type flowers all arranged on one side side of the stem and develop into pods of seeds

Other common names

Canada pea
common tufted vetch
see morecow vetch
tine grass
tufted vetch
wild fetches
wild fitches

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing, Spreading branched
Genus: Vicia are annuals, herbaceous perennials or climbers; leaves may be simple or divided into many small leaflets, often ending in a tendril. The yellow, purple, white or pink, pea-like flowers are produced in small clusters on the stem or in larger, upright sprays
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moist but well drained soil in sun or semi-shade. The roots have nodules which fix nitrogen from the air, so improve soil fertility

Propagation

Propagate from seed sown outdoors, in sun or light shade, where it is to grow

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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