Vicia hirsuta
Hairy vetch
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Vicia hirsuta (Hairy vetch) is a non-native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by tiny flowers and small hairy pods.
Hairy vetch is a naturalized annual found in northern California coastal regions, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, central coastal California, San Francisco Bay Area, and southwestern California in open, disturbed sites in scrub, woodland, and forest at elevations below 1,372 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces dull white or pale blue flowers in small clusters of 2 to 8 blooms. Growing with decumbent or climbing slender stems 20 to 70 centimeters long, it has a delicate, spreading habit. Its compound leaves feature 10 to 16 narrow linear leaflets 5 to 15 millimeters long, typically with truncate or notched tips. The fruit is a 6 to 10 millimeter oblong pod with spreading hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; tiny flowers and small hairy pods are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed sites in scrub, woodland, forest
Elevation: < 1372 m
California counties: Calaveras, Mendocino, Humboldt, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Butte, San Francisco
Outside California: to British Columbia, southeastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Vicia hirsuta 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 hirsuta native to California?
No. Vicia hirsuta is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Vicia hirsuta bloom?
Vicia hirsuta blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Vicia hirsuta grow?
Vicia hirsuta occurs in Calaveras, Mendocino, Humboldt, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of < 1372 m.
What plant family does Vicia hirsuta belong to?
Vicia hirsuta is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia hirsuta grow in?
Vicia hirsuta grows in Open, disturbed sites in scrub, woodland, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.