Sweet Pea Lathyrus odoratus
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Sweet Pea:
Previously known as:
- Lathyrus cyprius
- Lathyrus maccaguenii
- Lathyrus odoratus-zeylanicus
- Phonetic Spelling
- LAY-thy-russ oh-dor-AY-tus.
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Prefers a cool climate or afternoon shade; cool and heat resistant numerous cultivars are available; add organic matter, mulch and keep evenly moist; prefer well-drained soil; tolerates some frost; plant early spring; flowering will decrease if seed pods are allowed to develop.
Forest or natural areas native in low woods, bottomlands; weedy in disturbed areas, escaped along roadsides, in waste places, fields; landscape cultivated in flower gardens as perennial or annual herbaceous vine
Ornamental sweet peas, Lathyrus odoratus, are poisonous and should not be planted near edible peas, Pisum sativum,
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Mars'
- 'Mrs. Joan Ward'
- 'Oban Bay'
- 'Old Spice'
- 'Remembrance'
- 'Souvenir'
- 'Mars'
- 'Mars', 'Mrs. Joan Ward', 'Oban Bay', 'Old Spice', 'Remembrance', 'Souvenir'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Mars'
- 'Mrs. Joan Ward'
- 'Oban Bay'
- 'Old Spice'
- 'Remembrance'
- 'Souvenir'
- 'Mars'
- 'Mars', 'Mrs. Joan Ward', 'Oban Bay', 'Old Spice', 'Remembrance', 'Souvenir'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lathyrus
- Species:
- odoratus
- Family:
- Fabacaeae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It has been used medicinally
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S. Italy, Sicilia
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Various colors (except yellow) including red, mauve, peach, lilac, white, pink, and scarlet pea-like in elongated clusters appear May-July
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves alternate, pinnately divided, each with 2 or more leaflets and a terminal tendril
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Herbaceous vine with winged stems
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
