Vicia ludoviciana
slender vetch
Southern and central United States and northern Mexico
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
WaterLow
Overview
Vicia ludoviciana is a slender annual vine in the legume family with thin, weak stems that trail or climb 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) by branched tendrils at the leaf tips. The pinnately compound leaves carry 6-14 narrow leaflets, each 0.3-0.8 inch (8-20 mm) long, ending in the clasping tendrils. From February to May it bears small, pea-like flowers about 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) long, pale blue to lavender-purple, held singly or in short clusters on slender stalks. Flat seed pods 0.75-1.25 inches (2-3 cm) long follow, ripening to brown and splitting to release several seeds. V. ludoviciana grows in open woods, prairies, fields, roadsides, and disturbed sandy ground across the southern and central United States and into Mexico, often scrambling over grasses and other low plants. As a winter annual it germinates in fall, flowers in spring, and dies as summer heat arrives, persisting only through its seed. It fixes nitrogen and tolerates poor, dry soils. Bees visit the small flowers.
Native Range
Native to the southern and central United States and northern Mexico, from the Southeast and southern Plains through Texas, growing in open woods, prairies, fields, and sandy disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Used as a cool-season cover crop, in wildflower meadows, and in naturalized plantings on sandy ground. It adds nitrogen and early bloom among grasses. Its sprawling habit and reseeding make it less suited to tidy borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Pale blue to lavender flowers open from February to May, earliest in the warmer southern range. Bloom continues for several weeks before summer heat ends the plant cycle. Flat pods ripen quickly after flowering.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
blue to lavenderFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Vicia ludoviciana grows in full sun to part shade and dry, sandy or loamy, well-drained soil with a pH from about 5.5 to 7.5. As a winter annual it germinates in fall, grows through winter, and flowers in spring, dying back as heat arrives. It fixes nitrogen and needs no fertilizer. The plant tolerates poor, dry ground and needs little water. It is grown by sowing seed in fall and reseeds on its own where the soil is left open. No support is required, as it scrambles over nearby plants.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this short-lived annual. Plants can be sheared before the pods ripen to limit reseeding. The vines die back on their own with the onset of summer heat.⚠️ Toxicity Warning
UnknownPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow