Plant Details

Vicia sativa

Winter Tares, Garden vetch, Subterranean vetch

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Common names

53 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Common Vetch[1]
  • Garden vetch
  • kurehernes[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • narrowleaf vetch[1]
  • Spring Vetch[1]
  • Subterranean vetch
  • Winter Tares
Other languages (31)
Dutch
  • Smalle wikke
  • Vergeten wikke
  • Voeder-, Smalle en Vergeten Wikke[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Voederwikke
French
  • Vesce commune[1]
  • Vesce cultivée
Arabic
  • بيقية شائعة[1]
  • بيقية مزروعة[1]
Belarusian
  • Віка пасяўная[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 救荒野豌豆[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 箭筈豌豆[1]
  • 野豌豆[1]
Czech
  • vikev setá[1]
Danish
  • Fodervikke[1]
Estonian
Finnish
Galician
  • Ervellaca[1]
  • Herba da fame[1]
German
  • Futterwicke[1]
  • Saat-Wicke[1]
Hebrew
  • בקיה תרבותית[1]
Hungarian
  • Takarmány bükköny[1]
  • Takarmánybükköny[1]
Irish
  • Peasair chapaill[1]
Italian
  • Veccia comune[1]
Japanese
  • カラスノエンドウ(広義)[1]
  • ヤハズエンドウ(広義)[1]
Korean
Lithuanian
  • Sėjamasis vikis[1]
Norwegian
  • bondevikke[1]
Polish
  • Wyka siewna[1]
Portuguese
  • Ervilhaca-comum[1]
Russian
  • Горошек посевной[1]
Slovak
  • vika siata[1]
Slovenian
  • navadna grašica[1]
Spanish
  • Algarrobilla[1]
  • Lenteja rústica[1]
Swedish
  • fodervicker[1]
  • åkervicker[1]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Вика посівна[1]
  • Горошок посівний[1]
Welsh
  • Ffugbysen wyllt[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Vicia sativa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Common Vetch — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Algarrobilla — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Vesce commune — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • בקיה תרבותית — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Futterwicke — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Saat-Wicke — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • vikev setá — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Voeder-, Smalle en Vergeten Wikke — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • suvivikk — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • kurehernes — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • vikk — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Горошек посевной — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • bondevikke — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Veccia comune — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Fodervikke — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Sėjamasis vikis — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • rehuvirna — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Takarmánybükköny — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Takarmány bükköny — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • 살갈퀴 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • ヤハズエンドウ(広義) — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • カラスノエンドウ(広義) — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • kurehernes — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • vika siata — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • بيقية مزروعة — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • بيقية شائعة — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Ervilhaca-comum — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Wyka siewna — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Lenteja rústica — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • fodervicker — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Spring Vetch — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • 箭筈豌豆 — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • åkervicker — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • narrowleaf vetch — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • 救荒野豌豆 — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Горошок посівний — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Віка пасяўная — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Ervellaca — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Herba da fame — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • navadna grašica — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • veça — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Fiğ — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Peasair chapaill — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Вика посівна — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • Ffugbysen wyllt — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.
  • 野豌豆 — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 53324; Vicia sativa.

General information

Scientific name: Vicia sativa
Accepted name (Kew): Vicia sativa L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Vicia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Winter Tares, Garden vetch, Subterranean vetch
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Climber
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Climbing

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Annual
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Tea, Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer

Description

Cooked seeds are not very tasty or easy to digest, but they are highly nutritious. The seeds can be dried, ground into powder, and mixed with grain flour to make bread, cookies, pastries, and so on. The protein in the grain is complemented by the beans, providing complete nutritional value. However, caution must be exercised; see the information above about toxicity. The leaves, young shoots, and young pods can also be cooked. The leaves can be used as a substitute for tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 178871; name ID 2452522; Vicia L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 179703; name ID 2452750; Vicia sativa L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Vicia sativa

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2753189, ID 7FSGR: Vicia sativa L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Vicia sativa — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .