PlantFiles: Bitter Vetch
Lathyrus linifolius

I find it hard to believe that this plant is invasive. I believe the post claiming that it is invasive has confused bitter vetch with crown vetch.

Bitter vetch is not planted as a groundcover in the United States. In fact, it is barely planted in the US. Most people who have planted it have only planted it in the past 3 years from seeds imported from the UK. I dont know anyone who has planted bitter vetch (Lathyrus linifolius) who has had a problem with it being invasive. I wish it spread more easily, as a matter of fact, because it is hard to find seeds and impossible to find plants for sale in the US.

Crown vetch, however, is planted as a ground cover and can become invasive.

A lot if Internet sites seem to use Dave's Garden as a reference, so claims about plants might be looked at more closely.

Beautiful little charming wild plant for a natural garden!
I love it!

The invasiveness of this plant is out of control. It was suggested to my neighbor for a ground cover that was not suitable for planting since it was a sharp incline to the flat area where first her lawn and garden started with a row of shrub roses. The vetch grew at at such a speed that it invaded the lawn,roses and garden. She tried to get rid of it by pulling it up, but to no avail. Finally, a backhoe was hired to dig them up This lasted for a year when the vetch came back in full force invading all the clearing that was done once more. About three years ago, she gave me one of the shrub roses for my new garden and was very carefull to pull the vetch, but every time, perhaps once every other week I find one or two of that miserable weed among the roses. Not only that,some I missed, their seeds are now prospering in different places around my garden and yard.
I hope you will not ever suggest to plant vetch unless it is some where in the middle of a desert where it most likely will
die of the heat. I feel terribly sorry for my neighbor who has been fighting vetch for years.

Perennial from Europe and Asia.

Has blue-green, smooth, linear, lance or oval shaped leaves borne in pairs. Bears pea like, pink/red/purplish flowers, followed by pods.

Flowers April-July

Loves a well-drained fertile soil in sun or light shade.

A good wildflower garden plant in Europe.