Hairy Vetch

Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,100 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.

Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph Hairy Vetch: observations by month (U.S.)

About Hairy Vetch

Vicia villosa, known as the hairy vetch, fodder vetch or winter vetch, is a plant native to some of Europe and western Asia. It is a legume, grown as a forage crop, fodder crop, cover crop, and green manure. Although non-native, it occurs in all US states and is considered invasive by some states, such as Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington state — as well as in Japan and some parts of Europe...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Hairy Vetch by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Legumes)

White CloverTrifolium repens

Red CloverTrifolium pratense

Texas bluebonnetLupinus texensis

Bird's-Foot TrefoilLotus corniculatus

Rose CloverTrifolium hirtum

Tomcat CloverTrifolium willdenovii

American hog-peanutAmphicarpaea bracteata

Purple CrownvetchSecurigera varia

Photography tips

• Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
• Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
• Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
• Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ