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Invasive Species - Hairy Vetch - Vicia villosa Roth
Fabaceae: Pea & Bean Family. Vetches have been introduced into the US as
ornamentals, cover crops, erosion control and as 'smother crops', to
control weeds in agricultural fields. Hairy vetch has escaped from
cultivation and is considered invasive in some areas. It can crowd out
native plant species.
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Common Names: Hairy vetch, winter
vetch, fodder vetch, woollypod vetch, sand vetch, woolly
vetch, Russian vetch, or Siberian vetch.
Photo: John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org
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Habitat: It grows best in the dry
sandy soils of disturbed fields and thickets. It is
adapted to a range of soils from fine- to
coarse-textured but not acidic or saline soils with a pH
range from 4.9-8.2.
Distribution: This species is
reported from states shaded on Plants Database map. It
is reported invasive in MI, OR, and WA.
Ecological Impacts: Vetches have
been introduced into the US as ornamentals, cover crops,
erosion control and as 'smother crops', to control weeds
in agricultural fields or along railroad rights-of-way.
I personally took part in the planting of over 50,000
crown vetch plants along the (former) Chicago &
Northwestern railroad right of way along Northwest
Highway in Arlington Heights, Illinois, in 1976. That
effort to control weeds on an essentially un-mowable
hillside was unsuccessful.
Hairy vetch has escaped from
cultivation and is considered invasive in some areas. It
can crowd out native plant species.
Megachilid Bee takes nectar at Vetch Flower
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Native Origin:
Europe and Asia
Description: Hairy vetch
is an annual or perennial herb
in the pea family (Fabaceae)
with climbing stems up to 6.5
feet. The
whole plant has a white-woolly
appearance because of the long
soft hairs. A shallow taproot
system develops strong lateral
branches. Leaves are compound
pinnate with 4-12 pairs of
opposite leaflets tapering
towards the apex with 2-3
branched, terminal tendrils.
Self-fertilized purple to blue
flowers of 10-20 are borne on
long stalks arising at the base
of the leaves. Elongated
flattened pods contain 2-8
rounded seeds ranging from dark
brown to grey-black in color.
Hairy vetch has a rapid growth
rate.
Toxicity: The entire
plant is toxic. Common signs of
intoxication in include
dermatitis, conjunctivitis,
diarrhea, loss of hair, and in
some cases death.
Control and
Management:
• Manual- Pull small
infestations before seeds
develop, to free native plants.
Hairy vetch can be killed close
mowing at peak flower season.
Burning is also an option.
• Chemical- It can be
effectively controlled using any
of several readily available
general use herbicides such as
clopyralid. Follow label and
state requirements.
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Photo: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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