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| ## hairy vetch {#hairy-vetch .Title-Header}                           |
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| *Vicia villosa* Roth                                                  |
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| Plant Symbol = VIVI                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

winter vetch

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Erosion control*: Hairy vetch's capacity to provide a heavy mulch aids
in soil and water conservation.

*Crop*: Hairy vetch is grown as a cover preceding such crops as
safflower, corn, tobacco, cotton, rice, tomatoes, and other vegetables.
Hairy vetch is valuable for use in no-till corn rotations, especially in
regions that are less favorable for clover and pea cultivation. It may
also be used in orchards and vineyards. Hairy vetch is noted for its
ability to fix large quantities of nitrogen.

*Livestock*: It is grown for hay, pasture, silage, seed, or as interim
cover on disturbed soil.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Weediness {#weediness .Header-3}

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and
may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please
consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service
office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding
its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS
Web site at plants.usda.gov.

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

![Color image of Hairy Vetch (Vicia
villosa)](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.0in"
height="1.9271653543307086in"}*Vicia villosa* Roth, hairy vetch, is a
vining, winter-active legume. It may be annual or biennial. It has a
shallow root system. Stems may grow 2 to 5 feet long. Leaves bearing
several leaflets grow perpendicular to the stem, and may terminate in
tendrils. Stems and leaves of hairy vetch are pubescent (covered with a
soft woolly fuzz) and tufts are present at the tips of stems. Flowers
are purple. Seeds are round and black, and develop inside elongated and
flattened pods.

##### Adaptation and Distribution {#adaptation-and-distribution .Header-3}

Hairy vetch is a hardy type of vetch suited to wetter soil and colder
winters than other winter-active legumes. Hairy vetch develops best
under cool temperature conditions, on fertile loam soils; it is also
productive on sandy or clay soils. It has been reported to grow well on
light soils that are too sandy for crimson clover. It is only moderately
sensitive to soil acidity.

Hairy vetch is distributed throughout the entire United States. For a
current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Website.

##### 

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Hairy vetch is planted in the fall wherever it is grown. It is normally
seeded at 20 to 40 pounds per acre. Due to the vining, climbing habit of
the plant, it is often sown in combination with rye so the rye may
provide some support. In a mixture, 50 pounds of rye and 15 to 20 pounds
of vetch per acre should be used.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Hairy vetch performs well in rotations with conventional and no-till
planted row crops. In these systems, the fall planted legume is either
mechanically or chemically killed 2 to 3 weeks prior to planting or it
is sprayed at planting. A heavy disking may be advantageous prior to
turning or it may be sufficient as a primary operation depending on the
top growth of the vetch. The row-crop is then planted conventionally or
no-tilled into the cover crop. The legume decomposes, providing nitrogen
for the following crop. When grown for hay, vetch is generally cut when
the first pods are set. It may be cut using a mower with a swather
attachment. If grown as a seed crop, hairy vetch is harvested when the
lower pods are ripe to avoid shattering. If carefully managed, hairy
vetch may be grown with Bermudagrass. Vetch volunteers profusely when
allowed to disseminate seed.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

There are no serious insect or disease pests of mature hairy vetch;
however, the seed is highly susceptible to vetch bruchid (*Bruchus
brachialis*) injury. This insect pest is largely responsible for poor
natural reseeding of hairy vetch in pastures.

##### Control {#control .Header-3}

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county
weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it
safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control
method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to
provide specific information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty
the products and control methods named, and other products may be
equally effective.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

'Americus' (Turkey), 'AU Early Cover' (Alabama naturalized stand), and
'Madison'. Seeds are available from most commercial seed sources.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program

##### Edited: 05Feb2002 JLK; 060818 jsp {#edited-05feb2002-jlk-060818-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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