Lathyrus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lah-THY-russ
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Lathyrus is a genus of annual or perennial, herbaceous vines with winged stems and showy flowers in the pea family. It is often used for animal fodder. Plant in the full sun in rich well-drained soil. This plant easily climbs trellises and walls with its tendrils. It works well in a cottage garden or sprawling down a slope to help stop erosion. The word lathyros is Greek for pea or pulse. Some species are native to the SE USA; others found here are naturalized exotics.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Apihds, mites, and pea moths are occasional pests. Slugs and snails can eat new plants. Black root rot, leaf spot, powdery mildew, and rust diseases occasionally occur.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- L. grandiflorus, L. latifolius, L. odoratus
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- L. grandiflorus, L. latifolius, L. odoratus
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lathyrus
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Temp. & Subtropical to Tropical Mountains
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- A flattened pod; both young pods and seeds (peas) are edible after cooking
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Pea-like flowers in a variety of colors and sizes in elongated clusters. The buds are a yellowish white. The bloom lasts throughout the summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, pinnately divided, each with 2 or more leaflets of varying shapes and a terminal tendril.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Some species have winged stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Erosion
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
