Vicia cracca
Bird vetch
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Vicia cracca (Bird vetch) is a non-native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive dense flower clusters and high leaflet count.
Bird vetch is a naturalized perennial herb found in northern Coast Ranges, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and North Coast Ranges in roadsides and disturbed areas at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces blue-purple or lavender flowers, occasionally white, in dense clusters of 15 to 25 blooms along one side of the axis. Growing with climbing stems up to 2 meters tall and puberulent texture, it spreads readily through disturbed landscapes. Its compound leaves feature 14 to 22 linear to elliptic leaflets between 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, with entire stipules connecting each leaflet. The plant produces elongated fruits 1.5 to 3 centimeters long and 6 to 7 millimeters wide, which help it spread across various open habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; distinctive dense flower clusters and high leaflet count
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: to eastern Canada, northeastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Vicia cracca blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Lathyrus: Vicia style is round and hairy all around; Lathyrus style is flattened with hairs only on top.; vs Astragalus: Vicia has tendrils at leaf tips; Astragalus leaves end in a leaflet with no tendril.; vs Pisum: Vicia has many leaflets and tiny stipules; Pisum has 4-6 leaflets and giant stipules.; vs Salvia: Vicia has pea flowers and tendril-tipped leaves; Salvia has tubular two-lipped flowers and simple leaves.; vs Lupinus: Vicia has tendril-tipped pinnate leaves; Lupinus has palmate leaves radiating from one point.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vicia cracca native to California?
No. Vicia cracca is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Vicia cracca bloom?
Vicia cracca blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Vicia cracca belong to?
Vicia cracca is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia cracca grow in?
Vicia cracca grows in Roadsides, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.