Vicia cracca L.
Tufted Vetches
The Tufted Vetches are a perennial plant native to Europe and Asia, characterized by climbing stems up to 150 cm long with branched tendrils. It has pinnate leaves with 8-12 pairs of leaflets, each 5-10 mm long. It boasts purple to violet flowers from late spring to late summer, which are primarily pollinated by bumblebees. The seeds are tiny and contained within small pods that turn black when ripe.
Details
Fabales
Fabaceae
Vicia
Vicia cracca contains isoflavones and flavonoids such as luteolin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, and quercetin. The plant also has alkaloids such as vicine.
Vicia cracca is widely used as a forage crop for cattle and enriches soil through nitrogen fixation. It is appreciated by bees, butterflies as a source of nectar, and can be used for erosion control. Additionally, it is often used as a nutritious food source for pet birds like budgerigars.
Late spring to late summer
Spring or early fall
2 meters (with support)
Purple to violet
Disturbed habitats, old fields, roadside ditches, hedges, and waste places
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
Tenders
Expert guidance for current/future CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) subsidy applications
