Vicia gigantea
Giant vetch
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Vicia gigantea (Giant vetch) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by coastal native perennial with distinctive upturned black pods.
Giant vetch is a California native perennial found in coastal regions including northern Coast Ranges, central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern California coastal areas in coastal shrub, coastal forest, and chaparral habitats at elevations below 305 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces red-purple or variegated pale yellow flowers in clusters of 6 to 15 along one side of its floral axis. Growing as a robust, sprawling or climbing herb 1 to 2 meters long with glabrous or slightly hairy stems, it develops a distinctive climbing habit. Its leaves feature 16 to 24 elliptic or oblong leaflets 1.5 to 4 centimeters long with rounded to acute tips, supported by toothed or untoothed stipules. The fruit is a distinctive black, slightly upcurved pod 2 to 4.5 centimeters long that matures from its delicate flowering state.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; coastal native perennial with distinctive upturned black pods
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal shrub, coastal forest, chaparral
Elevation: < 305 m
California counties: Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Mendocino, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Marin, Del Norte, Contra Costa, Yolo, Solano, Placer, Alpine
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Vicia gigantea blooms Mar-Aug.
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 gigantea native to California?
Yes. Vicia gigantea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Vicia gigantea bloom?
Vicia gigantea blooms Mar-Aug.
Where in California does Vicia gigantea grow?
Vicia gigantea occurs in Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Mendocino, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 305 m.
What plant family does Vicia gigantea belong to?
Vicia gigantea is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia gigantea grow in?
Vicia gigantea grows in Coastal shrub, coastal forest, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.