American vetch
Vicia americana
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun, Jul
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, DC and 25 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA sprawling, tendril-climbing legume vine with pinnate leaves and clusters of blue-purple pea flowers, scrambling low over grasses and neighboring plants at meadow and prairie edges. Left untrained it tangles into an informal mass rather than a tidy clump.
Wildlife value
Host plant for silvery blue.
This vetch is a documented larval host for the silvery blue butterfly, and its flowers are a strong draw for native bees.
Common questions
- How much sun does American vetch need?
- American vetch grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does American vetch bloom?
- American vetch blooms in April, May, June, and July.
- Where is American vetch native?
- American vetch (Vicia americana) is native to AZ, CA, CO, DC and 25 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does American vetch host?
- American vetch is a larval host plant for silvery blue.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow American vetch? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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