A Spring Flowering Native Vine

Pale Vetchling ~ Lathyrus ochroleucus (Cream Vetchling)


I found this perennial native vine growing locally just upland of a large creek in partial shade and sandy soil. The irregular, pea flowers range from white to creamy yellow. Before opening, the petals have a tinge of pink. This vine flowers from May - July.

This is nice native vine, only reaching about 3 feet in height. It climbs or grasps other plants with tendrils arising from the end of the leaflets.

The leaves are "pinnately-divided into 3-5 pairs of leaflets...(with) an asymmetrical, rounded, leaf-like appendages at the base". (Wildflowers of Wisconsin)

I have not found a local source to purchase this native vine but it might be a good candidate for use in soil erosion prevention on dry soils and steep slopes (instead of invasive crown vetch).

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP).
2011. North American Plant Atlas. Chapel Hill, N.C.

See the BONAP map below for its native range.