Vicia menziesii is a short-lived perennial vine in the Fabaceae (pea) family. Vicia menziesii has an extensive system of branching and is a climber that typically can grow well into the sub-canopy of the forest. V. menziesii is pubescent when young, sparsely so with age and 1.5 to 20 cm (0.6 to 7.8 in) long. Leaflets are 8-12, alternate or subopposite, narrowly ovate to oblong-ovate and 35 to 70 mm (1.3 to 2.7 in) long and 15 to 30 mm (0.6 to 1.2 in) wide. Flowers are 6 to 9 in racemes, pedicels 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long, and corolla ochreoleucous when young and aging to rose purple and curved upward. Pods are black at maturity, oblong-ellipsoid, stipitate, and 90 to 100 mm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long, and 15 to 20 mm (0.6 to 0.8 in) wide. Seeds are black and globose, 6 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) in diameter.