Vicia pannonica
Hungarian vetch
(c) Patrick Hacker, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Vicia pannonica (Hungarian vetch) is a non-native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by very limited range, pale yellow flowers.
Hungarian vetch is a naturalized annual found in southern coastal California, including Santa Barbara County and Sonoma County, in disturbed areas at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pale yellow or yellow flowers with purple blotches, approximately 15 to 20 millimeters long. Growing with ascending or climbing hairy stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall, it has a delicate climbing habit. Its compound leaves have 10 to 20 elliptic-oblong to ovate leaflets, each 10 to 25 millimeters long with rounded or truncate tips, often featuring a single slender tooth at the end. The fruit is an elliptic to widely oblong pod 2 to 3 centimeters long with a short stalk-like base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; very limited range, pale yellow flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: sporadic United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Vicia pannonica 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 pannonica native to California?
No. Vicia pannonica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Vicia pannonica bloom?
Vicia pannonica blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Vicia pannonica belong to?
Vicia pannonica is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia pannonica grow in?
Vicia pannonica grows in 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.