Create Your Garden

Lathyrus latifolius (Perennial Sweet Pea)

Perennial Sweet Pea, Broad-Leaved Everlasting Pea, Everlasting Pea, Hardy Sweet Pea, Perennial Pea

AGM Award
Lathyrus Latifolius,Perennial Sweet Pea, Broad-Leaved Everlasting Pea, Everlasting Pea, Hardy Sweet Pea,  Perennial Pea, Fragrant Flowers, Pink Flowers, Purple Flowers, Perennial flowers, Cut flowers, deer resistant flowers

Award-winner Lathyrus latifolius, commonly known as Everlasting Pea or Perennial Sweet Pea is a vigorous climbing perennial that produces racemes of 5-11 vibrant rose to white pea-like flowers, 1 in. across (2.5 cm). Blooming all summer, if not allowed to go to seed, the attractive blossoms are borne on winged stems clad with paired, blue-green leaflets bearing tendrils. They will ramble along the ground or climb up nearby vegetation or support structures. Unlike Lathyrus odoratus, the flowers of Everlasting Peas are not fragrant. Easy to grow, Lathyrus latifolius requires little care and enjoys some drought tolerance.
While native to the Mediterranean, Everlasting Peas have been grown in North America since 1700s where they have naturalized to such a point that they are now considered to be invasive in some areas.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows up to 6-9 ft. tall (180-270 cm) and 3-6 ft. wide (90-180 cm). This plant spreads by rhizomes and will easily self-seed.
  • Loves full sun or light shade in fertile, medium moisture, well-draining soils. Best performance occurs in cool soils with good air circulation. Provide even moisture and regular fertilizer throughout the growing season. Avoid overhead watering.
  • Ideal to sprawl along the ground or twine onto support structures. Great for beds, borders, containers or as ground cover for banks and slopes.
  • Attractive to bees and butterflies, but ignored by deer.
  • Cut back to ground level in the fall.
  • Propagate by seed
  • No serious disease or pest issues, but may be attacked by slugs, snails, Pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and various leaf spots.
  • Everlasting Peas are NOT edible! Acute ingestion may cause mild stomach upset.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • Native to Europe.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 5 - 9
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 Climbers, Perennials
Plant Family Leguminosae
Genus Lathyrus
Common names Sweet Pea
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 6' - 9' (180cm - 270cm)
Spread 3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)
Spacing 18" - 24" (50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Ground Covers, Wall-Side Borders, Walls And Fences
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Lathyrus
Not sure which Lathyrus to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Lathyrus vestitus (Pacific Pea)
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Mollie Rilstone’ (Sweet Pea)
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Dorothy Eckford’ (Sweet Pea)
Lathyrus × hammettii ‘Turquoise Lagoon’ (Sweet Pea)
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Senator’ (Sweet Pea)
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Leominster Boy’ (Sweet Pea)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

April Birth Flower: What is my Birth Flower?
Best Annual Flowers and Plants for Full Sun
Most Fragrant Sweet Peas
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 5 - 9
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 Climbers, Perennials
Plant Family Leguminosae
Genus Lathyrus
Common names Sweet Pea
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 6' - 9' (180cm - 270cm)
Spread 3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)
Spacing 18" - 24" (50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Ground Covers, Wall-Side Borders, Walls And Fences
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Lathyrus
Not sure which Lathyrus to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Lathyrus latifolius (Perennial Sweet Pea) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Lathyrus latifolius (Perennial Sweet Pea) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    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!

    Join Gardenia.net

    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!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone