Bird Vetch
Scientific Name: Vicia cracca L.
Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Rosidae / Fabales / Fabaceae / Leguminosae / Vicia L./ Vicia cracca L.
| General Information |
| Usda Symbol | VICR |
| Group | Dicot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | Forb/herbVine, |
| Native Locations | VICR |
Plant Guide
Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Bird Vetch is planted.
Plant Traits
Growth Requirements
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | -33 |
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| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
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| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
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| CaCO3 Tolerance | High |
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| Cold Stratification Required | No |
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| Drought Tolerance | High |
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| Fertility Requirement | Low |
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| Fire Tolerance | High |
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| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 110 |
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| Hedge Tolerance | None |
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| Moisture Use | Low |
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| pH, Maximum | 7.0 |
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| pH, Minimum | 4.9 |
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| Precipitation, Maximum | 60 |
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| Precipitation, Minimum | 32 |
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| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 12 |
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| Salinity Tolerance | None |
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| Shade Tolerance | Intermediate |
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Morphology/Physiology
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Moderate |
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| Toxicity | None |
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| Shape and Orientation | Decumbent |
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| Nitrogen Fixation | Medium |
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| Resprout Ability | No |
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| Active Growth Period | Spring and Summer |
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| Bloat | Low |
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| C:N Ratio | Low |
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| Coppice Potential | No |
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| Fall Conspicuous | No |
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| Fire Resistant | No |
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| Flower Color | Purple |
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| Flower Conspicuous | No |
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| Foliage Color | Green |
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| Foliage Porosity Summer | Moderate |
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| Foliage Texture | Fine |
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| Low Growing Grass | No |
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| Lifespan | Moderate |
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| Leaf Retention | No |
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| Known Allelopath | No |
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| Height, Mature (feet) | 1.5 |
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| Growth Rate | Moderate |
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| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
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| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
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| Fruit/Seed Color | Black |
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| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
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Reproduction
| Vegetative Spread Rate | Moderate |
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| Small Grain | No |
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| Seedling Vigor | Low |
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| Seed Spread Rate | Slow |
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| Seed per Pound | 40000 |
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| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
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| Propagated by Tubers | No |
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| Propagated by Sprigs | No |
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| Propagated by Sod | No |
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| Propagated by Seed | Yes |
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| Propagated by Corm | No |
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| Propagated by Container | No |
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| Propagated by Bulb | No |
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| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
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| Fruit/Seed Period End | Summer |
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| Fruit/Seed Period Begin | Summer |
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| Fruit/Seed Abundance | Low |
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| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
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| Bloom Period | Late Spring |
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| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
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Suitability/Use
| Veneer Product | No |
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| Pulpwood Product | No |
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| Protein Potential | Medium |
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| Post Product | No |
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| Palatable Human | No |
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| Palatable Graze Animal | High |
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| Palatable Browse Animal | High |
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| Nursery Stock Product | No |
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| Naval Store Product | No |
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| Lumber Product | No |
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| Fodder Product | Yes |
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| Christmas Tree Product | No |
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| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
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