Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana
Deerpea vetch, Deerpea Vetch
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana (Deerpea vetch) is a native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by southern California native with small blue flowers.
Deerpea vetch is a California native annual found in southern Central Coast, southern Coastal Range, and southwestern California in grasslands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, and riparian areas at elevations below 1,220 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pale blue flowers clustered 1 to 3 near the tip of its stems, each flower approximately 4.5 to 7 millimeters long. Growing with sprawling or low-climbing stems 30 to 100 centimeters long, the plant can be glabrous or slightly hairy. Its compound leaves have 4 to 10 narrow oblong to elliptic leaflets, each 10 to 25 millimeters long with an acute or occasionally truncate tip, often with a single tooth. The plant produces elongated fruits 15 to 25 millimeters long that are oblong or saber-shaped with a short stalk-like base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; southern California native with small blue flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, canyons, streambanks, in grassland, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, riparian woodland
Elevation: < 1220 m
Outside California: to southeastern United States, Mexico
Bloom period
Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana blooms Mar-Jun.
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 ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana native to California?
Yes. Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana bloom?
Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana belong to?
Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana grow in?
Vicia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana grows in Slopes, canyons, streambanks, in grassland, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, riparian woodland.
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.