Lathyrus latifolius
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- LATH-ih-rus lat-ee-FOH-lee-us
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Perennial Sweet Pea or Everlasting Pea is an old fashioned herbaceous perennial climbing vine in the bean family. It produces beautiful bright flowers and grows up 10 feet tall with a 6 foot spread. This plant blooms in summer, and blooms are on long peduncles above the foliage. The stems have leafy wings which contribute to its ornamental appeal. The genus name comes from the Greek lathyros for pea or pulse. The species name means broad-leaved.
This plant does well in full sun or some light shade and evenly moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Seeds are propagated by pre-soaking the seed in water for several days, then planting less than half an inch deep in the early spring. Once established, the plant will tolerate drought conditions. For best results, fertilize throughout the growing season and avoid overhead watering. Plants spread by rhizomes and self-seed. It can become weedy and climb structures, but is easily controlled in a large pot.
It climbs by tendrils and can be trellised or used to cover a fence or other structure. It makes a nicely mounded ground cover and will cover an embankment. Key identifiers include the winged stems and the ternately compound leaves with the 3rd leaf being a 3-branched tendril.
Quick ID Hints:
- 3-part leaf with 3rd part being a 3-branched tendril
- Herbaceous vine with winged, green stems
- Pea-like flower clusters on long stems above foliage
- Fruit is bean-like pod with green 'peas' inside
Diseases, Insect Pests and Other Plant Problems:
This plant dislikes being transplanted and has no serious pest problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albus'
White flowers. Vigourous plant. - 'Blushing Bride'
Vigourous vine with white and pink flowers. - 'Pink Beauty'
Ornamental. - 'Pink Pearl'
One to two inch pink blossoms. - 'Snow Queen'
Showy white blossoms. - 'Splendens'
Long lived. Not fragrant.
- 'Albus'
- 'Albus', 'Blushing Bride', 'Pink Beauty', 'Pink Pearl', 'Snow Queen', 'Splendens'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albus'
White flowers. Vigourous plant. - 'Blushing Bride'
Vigourous vine with white and pink flowers. - 'Pink Beauty'
Ornamental. - 'Pink Pearl'
One to two inch pink blossoms. - 'Snow Queen'
Showy white blossoms. - 'Splendens'
Long lived. Not fragrant.
- 'Albus'
- 'Albus', 'Blushing Bride', 'Pink Beauty', 'Pink Pearl', 'Snow Queen', 'Splendens'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lathyrus
- Species:
- latifolius
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Europe
- Distribution:
- Throughout the United States, Australia, India, and southern South America.
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are a flattened, narrow legume with fleshy, round, green seeds. Young fruits and seeds (peas) are edible once cooked.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers have 5 to 15 petals. They are pea-like in elongated clusters and the corolla is up to 1 inch in size. Blossoms can be magenta-purple, rose-pink, white, yellow, or blue in color. Inflorescence is a raceme, axillary. Peduncle length exceeds the length of leaves. Blooms in midsummer to fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are ternately compound with the 3rd leaflet being a 3-branched tendril. They are alternate, pinnately divided, and each has 2 or more leaflets and a terminal tendril. Leaflets are oblong to elliptic, acute, mucronate, cuneate, entire, 3 to 5 veined, blue-green, and up to 4 inches long. Stipules are persistent and leaflike.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are green, alate, and are either pubescent or glabrous. They have leafy wings.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. "Lathyrism": paralysis, slow and weak pulse, shallow breathing, and convulsions, tremors, seizures and possibly death.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Amine, phenol, and glycoside, Aminoproprionitrite
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Seeds
