Tufted Vetch
Vicia cracca
Best Time to See: June, July, August
Habitat: Grassland
Colour: Blue, Purple
Scrambling plant with 10-40 blue violet flowers in a one sided cluster. Leaves pinnate with 6-10 pairs of leaflets and branched tendrils at leaf tip.
Habitat and distribution
Common throughout UK apart from the Scottish Highlands. Grassy places, bushes, meadows and hedgerows.
Did you know?
- Local names include Cat-peas, Cow-vetch and Fingers-and-thumbs (the pods end in a nail or claw).
- A member of the pea family (legumes), Common Vetch is able to make its own nitrates. This makes it useful as a soil-fertilising plant and is also often used as livestock fodder.
