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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Vicia hirsuta is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Cracca hirsuta. Cracca minor. Endiusa hirsuta. Ervum hirsutum
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:
Seed - cooked[2, 105, 177]. Used like lentils[2], the seed can be eaten as a staple food[178]. Leaves and stems - cooked[105, 177, 178]. Used as a vegetable[272]
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
General insect (especially bees) nectar plant. Shelter plant for beneficial insects including lacewings, parasitic Wasps, beetles and spiders. Pioneer Species– helps reestablish overused or damaged land. Nitrogen Fixing Plant – this plant creates its own nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms (bacteria) in its roots. Dynamic Accumulator Species – Potassium, Phosphorus, Nitrogen.
Special Uses
Dynamic accumulator Food Forest Nitrogen Fixer
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season, otherwise it is best grown in semi-shade[200]. Occasionally cultivated for its edible seed which is used as a lentil substitute[2]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in situ in spring or autumn.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Hairy vetch
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq (n. (rare)), Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Checheno-Ingushetia, Dagestan, Karacaevo-Cerkesskaja Respublika, Krasnodar, North Ossetia, Stavropol), Russian Federation (Altay, Buryatia, Chelyabinsk, Hakasija, Respublika, Irkutsk, Kemerovskaja oblast, Krasnoyarsk, Kurganskaja oblast, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Sverdlovsk, Tomsk, Tyumen, Tyva, Respublika, Yakutia-Sakha), Turkmenistan, China, Korea, Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku), Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India (northwest), Nepal, Pakistan (north) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russian Federation (Baškortostan, Respublika, Cuvašskaja Respublika, Komi, Marij Èl, Respublika, Mordovija, Respublika, Tatarstan, Udmurtia, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kalužskaja oblast, Kirov, Kostroma, Kursk, Leningradskaja oblast, Lipeckaja oblast, Moscow, Murmansk, Novgorod, Orel, Orenburg, Penza, Perm, Komi-Permyak, Pskovskaja oblast, Rostov, Ryazan, Saratov, Smolensk, Tambov, Tula, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgogradskaja oblast, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl), Ukraine (incl. Krym), Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Romania, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo (east), Rwanda, Angola (southwest)
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Artemisia ludoviciana | White Sage, Louisiana Sage, Prairie Sage, Western Mugwort | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-9
| M | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Artemisia ludoviciana gnaphalodes | White Sage | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-8
| | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Avena ludoviciana | Oats | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Lactuca ludoviciana | Western Wild Lettuce, Biannual lettuce | Biennial | 1.2 |
0-0
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 2 | |
| Orobanche ludoviciana | Broomrape, Louisiana broomrape | Perennial | 1.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | FSN | M | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vicia americana | American Vetch, Mat vetch | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-7
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Vicia amoena | | Perennial | 1.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia amurensis | | Perennial | 1.5 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia articulata | One-Flower Vetch | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia benghalensis | Purple Vetch | Annual/Perennial | 0.6 |
-
| F | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia caroliniana | Carolina vetch, Carolina wood vetch | Perennial | 0.6 |
3-9
| M | LMH | FSN | M | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Vicia cracca | Tufted Vetch, Bird vetch, Cow vetch | Perennial Climber | 1.8 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Vicia ervilia | Bitter Vetch | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia faba equina | Horsebean | Annual | 1.0 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia faba major | Broad Bean, Fava Bean | Annual | 1.0 |
4-10
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Vicia faba minuta | Tick Bean | Annual | 1.0 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia gigantea | Giant Vetch | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Vicia grandiflora kitaibeliana | large yellow vetch | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Vicia heptajuga | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia hirticalycina | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia japonica | | Perennial | 1.5 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia monantha | Hard Vetch, Barn vetch | Annual | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia narbonensis | French Vetch, Purple broad vetch | Annual | 1.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Vicia nipponica | | Perennial | 0.8 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia noeana | | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia pisiformis | Pea Vetch, Pale-flower vetch | Perennial | 1.8 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia pseudo-orobus | | Perennial | 1.5 |
-
| | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Vicia sativa | Winter Tares, Garden vetch, Subterranean vetch | Annual Climber | 1.2 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vicia sativa leucosperma | Winter Tares | Annual Climber | 1.2 |
4-8
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.)Gray.
Botanical References
17200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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