Vicia sepium seems to grow in grassy places, hedgerows and wasteland but also quite often in the shade at the edge of a wood. It doesn't scramble as far and wide as Vicia cracca (Tufted Vetch) and seems not have a preference for acid or basic soils. It is very variable in habit and height from small procumbent plants to mounds of plants over 3 feet tall.

Vicia sepium is one the commonest plants in the British Isles and is found everywhere including the outer islands of Shetland and St. Kilda

Clocaenog Forest, North Wales 18th May 2004

Added on November 26th 2004, updated 23rd February 2012