Vicia caroliniana: Wildlife Value
Host plant for Northern Cloudywing butterfly. Seeds may be eaten by songbirds.
Plant Profile: Vicia caroliniana
Taxonomy: Vicia carolinianaNames
Wood Vetch
Phonetic Spelling:VIS-ee-uh kair-oh-lin-ee-AN-uh
Genus:Vicia
Species:caroliniana
Family:Fabaceae
Wood Vetch is a charming native wildflower that thrives in the dry soils of North Carolina, reaching heights of 1 to 2 feet. Its leaves are arranged alternately, featuring a pinnately compound structure with smooth edges and a hairy underside. The stem is hollow, covered in hairs, and has a slightly winged appearance. In the spring, it produces delicate flowers that resemble light pinkish-white peas.
**Fire Risk:** This plant is highly flammable and should not be cultivated within the defensible space around your home. It is advisable to choose plants with low flammability ratings for areas closest to your residence.
**Seasons of Interest:**
- **Bloom:** Spring
- **Fruit/Seed/Nut:** Summer
Vicia caroliniana Feature Summary
Vicia caroliniana Image Gallery
Tags
#wildlife plant
#herb garden
#food source
#fire
#extreme flammability
#NC native
#deer resistant
#native garden
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#larval host plant
#food source summer
#bird friendly
#dry soils tolerant
#butterfly friendly
Similar Plants
Vicia caroliniana Feature Summary
Attributes
Host plant for Northern Cloudywing butterfly. Seeds may be eaten by songbirds.
Moderate deer resistance.
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
extreme flammability
Flowers
Light pinkish white, pea-like flowers appear in spring.
Pink
White
Spring
Leaves
The leaves are pinnately compound and alternate with an entire margin and hairy underside.
Deciduous
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Entire
Velvety
Stem
The stem is hollow, hairy, and slightly winged.
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Herb
Deciduous
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Fruit
Summer
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Deer
Dry Soil
Butterflies
Songbirds
Vicia caroliniana Image Gallery
Vicia caroliniana Attributes
Vicia caroliniana: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Moderate deer resistance.
Vicia caroliniana: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Vicia caroliniana: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Vicia caroliniana: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Vicia caroliniana Flowers
Vicia caroliniana: Flower Description
Light pinkish white, pea-like flowers appear in spring.
Vicia caroliniana: Flower Color
Pink
White
Vicia caroliniana: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Vicia caroliniana Leaves
Vicia caroliniana: Leaf Description
The leaves are pinnately compound and alternate with an entire margin and hairy underside.
Vicia caroliniana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Vicia caroliniana: Leaf Color
Green
Vicia caroliniana: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Vicia caroliniana: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Vicia caroliniana: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Vicia caroliniana: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Vicia caroliniana Stem
Vicia caroliniana: Stem Description
The stem is hollow, hairy, and slightly winged.
Vicia caroliniana: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Vicia caroliniana: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Vicia caroliniana Whole Plant Traits
Vicia caroliniana: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Vicia caroliniana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Vicia caroliniana Cultural Conditions
Vicia caroliniana: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Vicia caroliniana: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Vicia caroliniana: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Vicia caroliniana Fruit
Vicia caroliniana: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Vicia caroliniana Landscape
Vicia caroliniana: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Vicia caroliniana: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Vicia caroliniana: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
