Vicia lutea
Yellow vetch, Yellow Vetch
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Vicia lutea (Yellow vetch) is a non-native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by only yellow-flowered vetch in California.
Yellow vetch is a naturalized annual found in northern California coastal regions including San Francisco Bay Area in roadsides and disturbed areas at elevations below 732 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow flowers often tinged with purple, typically 20 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with ascending or climbing stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall, it spreads with a glabrous or sparsely hairy habit. Its compound leaves have 8 to 16 leaflets, each 10 to 20 millimeters long, with oblong or linear shapes and rounded tips. The fruit is an elliptic-oblong pod 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters long with distinctive hairs emerging from conspicuous tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; only yellow-flowered vetch in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 732 m
California counties: Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz, Yolo, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Alameda, Placer, Napa
Outside California: sporadic to southern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Vicia lutea blooms May-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 lutea native to California?
No. Vicia lutea is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Vicia lutea bloom?
Vicia lutea blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Vicia lutea grow?
Vicia lutea occurs in Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz, Yolo, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Alameda, Placer and other counties, at elevations of < 732 m.
What plant family does Vicia lutea belong to?
Vicia lutea is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia lutea grow in?
Vicia lutea grows in Roadsides, disturbed areas.
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.