Lathyrus Species, Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea, Everlasting Pea, Perennial Pea, Perennial Sweet Pea

Lathyruslatifolius

Family
Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Lathyrus (LAY-thy-russ)
Species
latifolius (lat-ee-FOH-lee-us)
Synonym
Lathyrus megalanthus
Lathyrus membranaceus
Lathyrus sylvestris subsp. latifolius
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Spacing
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
Seed is poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Pink
Magenta (pink-purple)
Medium Purple
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Vines and Climbers
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for cutting
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
Direct sow as soon as the ground can be worked
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Scarify seed before sowing
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Lincoln, (258 reports)

Jones, Alabama

Bisbee, Arizona

Amesti, California

Big Sur, California

Canoga Park, California

Corralitos, California

Elk Grove, California

Elkhorn, California

Interlaken, California

Pajaro, California

San Francisco, California

Susanville, California

Watsonville, California

Denver, Colorado

Keystone Heights, Florida

Cornelia, Georgia

Washington, Illinois

Bloomfield, Iowa

Woden, Iowa

Iola, Kansas

Barbourville, Kentucky

Ewing, Kentucky

Marion, Massachusetts

Milton, Massachusetts

Roslindale, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Erie, Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

New Madrid, Missouri

Stover, Missouri

Reno, Nevada

Moultonborough, New Hampshire

Morristown, New Jersey

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Little Falls, New York

Staten Island, New York

Victor, New York

Lake Lure, North Carolina

Glouster, Ohio

Lima, Ohio

Stow, Ohio

Brookings, Oregon

Chiloquin, Oregon

Harbor, Oregon

West Linn, Oregon

Millersburg, Pennsylvania

Arlington, Texas

Dripping Springs, Texas

Plano, Texas

Rowlett, Texas

Ogden, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Roanoke, Virginia

Kalama, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Stanwood, Washington

Tacoma, Washington(2 reports)

Belleville, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

8
positives
8
neutrals
6
negatives
Sort By:
Sort By:
J
Belleville, WI | May 2015 | neutral

A tough little vine. It has been cut down in the early stages of growth at least 4 times in 6 years and has survived (dormant after the ...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | September 2014 | neutral

This species has no fragrance. It is not the famously fragrant sweet pea, which is L. odoratus. It is hardy to Z3. ...Read More

V
V
| September 2014 | neutral

Grows well in Hillsdale Ontario (about 120 km north of Toronto.) Pretty blooms but in the wrong place since there was nothing to climb. ...Read More

M
Dripping Springs, TX | April 2012 | neutral

It has staid alive through the big drought of 2011 but did not perform. It is alive , Matter of fact, very alive this year. I never water...Read More

J
Little Falls, NY | July 2011 | neutral

We buy distressed property and fix them up meticulously. The latest home had a "yard" three feet tall with trash and weeds... and three f...Read More

C
Kittanning, PA | September 2008 | negative

HELP ME KILL THIS PLANT! I desperately need your advice. It has taken over a full acre of woodland in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Ca...Read More

C
Kerhonkson, NY (Zone 5a) | July 2008 | negative

I grew it up the fence because of the flowers but found I hated the look of the foliage -- reminded me of a bunch of praying mantises ......Read More

G
Tacoma, WA | May 2008 | positive

This sweet pea grows in the neighborhood and established itself in a crack in the sidewalk by our front porch.

I let it gr...Read More

F
Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) | May 2007 | positive

Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea Lathyrus latifolius is Naturalized in Texas.

D
(Zone 10b) | July 2006 | positive

for a vine that needs not to be aromatic and will develop quickly without much assistance, it has beautiful curves of leaf form and tenta...Read More

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | positive

If kept deadheaded, these sweet peas will bloom almost all summer. It is prone to powdery mildew, so may need cutting back if it gets to...Read More

K
K
Kissimmee, FL (Zone 9b) | June 2005 | positive

We grow it here in Florida during late fall and winter when temperatures are cooler.

C
Frederick, MD (Zone 7b) | June 2005 | positive

I love the pink color of the blossoms I have. They are a beautiful plant, but definitely can be invasive, even in the very hot and dry so...Read More

C
(Zone 8a) | September 2004 | neutral

Nice to have climbing sweet-pea-like flowers on a regular basis, but there are probably better choices in most situations for this level ...Read More

K
K
L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) | May 2004 | negative

Very invasive. Seeds come down the hill from the neighbor's yard and I am fighting a loosing battle.

D
D
Springfield, MA (Zone 6a) | October 2003 | negative

I planted two of these, from 3" pots, three seasons ago (in 2000.) I have gotten very few - if any - flowers on the plants; they only gr...Read More

E
E
Victor, NY | August 2003 | positive

Lathyrus latifolius is a lovely wild plant which may not always be best for growing in the cultivated garden, since it can spread ...Read More

T
| May 2003 | neutral

I have a ton of everlasting pea seeds and really love the flowers, ands would like to start some in potting soil or loam.

D
D
(Zone 5b) | August 2002 | positive

Yes, they can be invasive but they can also fill a need, as does this tall one on the side of a house focusing the eye on the flowers and...Read More

K
K
Mount Prospect, IL (Zone 5a) | August 2002 | negative

This plant does not need moist soil to be invasive! I planted the vining form 5 years ago to climb an arbor as a "temporary" solution wh...Read More

E
E
| August 2002 | negative

Even though I love the way this plant blooms until frost, it's terribly invasive. This year it took over my garden and several of my per...Read More

M
M
Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) | August 2001 | neutral

A long flowering delicate looking vine with blue-green sword shaped leaves and many clusters of 1 inch pea flowers along the stems that a...Read More

Featured
Gulf Fritillary
(Agraulis vanillae)
Eastern Kingbird
(Tyrannus tyrannus)
Featured
Gulf Fritillary
(Agraulis vanillae)
Eastern Kingbird
(Tyrannus tyrannus)