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Lathyrus latifolius

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.

More information on Lathyrus.

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', 'Blushing Bride', 'Pink Beauty', 'Pink Pearl', 'Snow Queen', 'Splendens'
Tags:
#purple#deciduous#poisonous#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#yellow flowers#legume#blue flowers#stream banks#mounding#climbing vines#summer flowers#children's garden#playground plant#groundcover#edible fruits#spring interest#edible garden#fantz#vine#butterfly friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#climber#fence#trellis
 
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', 'Blushing Bride', 'Pink Beauty', 'Pink Pearl', 'Snow Queen', 'Splendens'
Tags:
#purple#deciduous#poisonous#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#yellow flowers#legume#blue flowers#stream banks#mounding#climbing vines#summer flowers#children's garden#playground plant#groundcover#edible fruits#spring interest#edible garden#fantz#vine#butterfly friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#climber#fence#trellis
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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