Sweet Pea
Lathyrus odoratus, commonly known as Sweet Pea, is a fragrant annual plant with a wide range of colorful flowers, ideal for adding beauty and fragrance to gardens, borders, containers, and trellises.
Lathyrus odoratus, commonly known as sweet pea, is native to the Mediterranean region, specifically Sicily, southern Italy, and the Aegean Islands.
Description: Sweet peas are a beloved garden classic, admired for their vibrant colors and intoxicating scent. The plant is an annual flowering vine that grows on slender, green stems.
Growth Habit: Sweet peas have a sprawling or climbing habit, with tendrils that readily twine around any available support. It’s a fast grower, especially in cool weather, making it a fantastic spring climber.
Size: As bushy annuals, they grow from 8 inches to 3 feet tall (20-90 cm). As climbing annuals, they can grow up to 6-8 feet (180-240 cm) or more in a single season. Without support, they would grow in a bushy mound to 28 inches tall (70 cm). Dwarf varieties are also available, suitable for containers or small spaces.
Flowers: The flowers are perhaps their most impressive feature. They have one large, upright, round petal (banner or standard), two narrow side petals (wings), and two lower petals forming a boat-shaped structure (keel). They come in a range of colors, including white, pink, red, purple, and blue. The flowers are usually gathered in clusters and are famously fragrant. They make magnificent cut flowers and great bouquets for your home.
Foliage: Sweet pea plants have delicate, pinnately compound leaves, which consist of one to three pairs of leaflets and a terminal tendril that aids in climbing.
Blooming Season: Sweet peas bloom from late spring to fall. They bloom best in cool, mild climates where they enjoy a long blooming season.
Hardiness: Sweet peas are annuals and can tolerate a light frost but dislike hot, humid conditions.
Uses: Sweet peas are popular in cut flower arrangements due to their attractive flowers and sweet fragrance. They are also commonly used to cover fences, trellises, or archways in gardens. Discover 30 Best Annual Flowers and Plants to Spruce up Your Garden
Pollinators: The flowers are visited by a variety of pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, who are attracted to the flowers’ sweet fragrance and vibrant colors.
Toxicity: Sweet peas are not edible. They are toxic if ingested by both humans and pets. Their seeds are particularly high in a neurotoxic amino acid known as ODAP.
Deer: Sweet peas are often resistant to deer, who generally avoid eating them due to their toxicity.
Invasiveness: Sweet peas can self-seed prolifically under ideal conditions. They are considered invasive in New Zealand and ‘possibly invasive’ in the Dominican Republic. However, in their native range, they are listed as Near Threatened, as they are subject to wild collection threat due to their commercial value. Remove spent flowers before they set seed if you wish to prevent self-seeding.
Key Facts: Sweet peas were first brought to England in the 17th century and have been a favorite in English gardens ever since. Today, there are hundreds of cultivars available, offering a broad range of colors and flower forms. Despite the common name, sweet peas are not related to edible peas.
Hardiness |
2 - 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Annuals, Climbers |
Genus | Lathyrus |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
Height | 8" - 8' (20cm - 240cm) |
Spread | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Landscaping Ideas | Patio And Containers, Beds And Borders, Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Wall-Side Borders |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
Alice Day, Shutterstock
Hardiness |
2 - 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Annuals, Climbers |
Genus | Lathyrus |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
Height | 8" - 8' (20cm - 240cm) |
Spread | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Landscaping Ideas | Patio And Containers, Beds And Borders, Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Wall-Side Borders |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!