American Vetch

A native member of the pea family with climbing vine 1 to 3 foot vines and purplish or pinkish flowers. American vetch grows in part shade, full sun, fields, ditches, open woods. As with peavine, the leaves of this legume continue to be eaten by bears throughout the summer. American vetch is an important summer vegetation, it is less preferred than berries and hazelnuts, but can sustain bears in years when berries and hazelnuts are scarce.