| Author | Roth | |
| Distribution | Throughout the state, probably in every county.
Native of Europe; in N.A. throughout southern Canada and the U.S. | |
| Abundance | Frequent to very common -- probably the most conspicuous vetch in the state, owing to its commonness and its densely flowered racemes. | |
| Habitat | Fields, meadows, roadsides, yard weed, pastures, farmyards, disturbed ground, powerlines. | |
| Phenology | Flowering May-September. | |
| Identification | Hairy Vetch is a twining vine that scrambles over other herbs and low shrubs. Stem grows up to 3 feet (or more), with well-spaced leaves that are divided into 8-12 leaflets, alternate to sub-opposite. Replacing the terminal leaflet is a curly tendril. The flowers grow in rather dense racemes as long or longer than the leaves, pale to dark red-purple or violet, the keel often whitish. See also V. cracca, which occurs in the Mountains, for ID differences. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | Included here are 2 subspecies: varia and villosa. A synonym of the former is V. dasycarpa. The two share the same distribution and habitats in NC and we lump them for convenience.
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| Other Common Name(s) | | |
| State Rank | SE | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
