Vicia sativa subsp. sativa
Spring vetch, Spring Vetch
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Vicia sativa subsp. sativa (Spring vetch) is a non-native California vine in the Fabaceae family, recognized by broader leaflets and large lens-shaped seeds vs. narrow-leaved subspecies.
Spring vetch is a naturalized annual found in northern coastal California, northern California Coast Ranges, central California forests, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, central western California, and southwestern California in roadsides, disturbed areas, grasslands, and open woodland areas at elevations below 1,266 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pink-purple flowers 18 to 30 millimeters long with distinctive wedge-shaped corollas. Growing with slender climbing or trailing stems, it forms delicate spreading patches in open habitats. Its compound leaves have 4 to 10 millimeter wide leaflets that are wedge-shaped to oblong, typically 2 to 6 times longer than wide. The fruit develops as a brown to black pod containing lens-shaped seeds 6 to 8 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; broader leaflets and large lens-shaped seeds vs. narrow-leaved subspecies
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas, grassland, open areas in oak woodland, riparian woodland
Elevation: < 1266 m
California counties: Butte, Orange, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Monterey, Amador, El Dorado, Calaveras, Nevada, Lake, Placer, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, San Diego, Yuba, Marin, Kern, Contra Costa, Sacramento, Solano, Alameda, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Tehama, Shasta, Glenn, Merced, Ventura, Santa Clara, Napa, Stanislaus
Outside California: to eastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Vicia sativa subsp. sativa 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 sativa subsp. sativa native to California?
No. Vicia sativa subsp. sativa is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Vicia sativa subsp. sativa bloom?
Vicia sativa subsp. sativa blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Vicia sativa subsp. sativa grow?
Vicia sativa subsp. sativa occurs in Butte, Orange, Santa Barbara, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 1266 m.
What plant family does Vicia sativa subsp. sativa belong to?
Vicia sativa subsp. sativa is in the Fabaceae family, genus Vicia.
What habitat does Vicia sativa subsp. sativa grow in?
Vicia sativa subsp. sativa grows in Roadsides, disturbed areas, grassland, open areas in oak woodland, riparian woodland.
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.