Seasonal Wild Flowers

Wood Vetch

Vicia sylvatica

Fabaceae

June to August

It is scattered throughout the country except for the

Southeast, East Anglia and parts of the North.

It is most common in the West.

See the BSBI distribution map for Wood Vetch

It grows in open woodland, hedges, scrub, rough

ungrazed grassland and on cliffs and shingle.

Wood Vetch is a native, scrambling perennial herb,

growing up to 2m.

Flowers are in loose, one-sided spikes, up to 10cm long.

They appear creamy white, but the standard petal has

attractive blue-purple veins. They are slightly drooping

and up to 2cm.

The calyx has bristle-shaped teeth.

Leaflets are in 6 to 9 pairs, and are oval oblongs up

to 2cm.

Leaf tendrils are multi-branched

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Wood Vetch in a hedge, Dorset

One-sided flower spike

Flowers with veined standard petals

Calyx teeth

Leaflets and branched tendrils

Tendrils