Perennial pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
Discover Lathyrus latifolius, the vigorous Perennial pea, offering vibrant pink to white blooms from June to September in zones 3-8.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Perennial pea, scientifically known as Lathyrus latifolius, is a robust, long-lived herbaceous perennial prized for its exceptionally long summer blooming period. This vigorous vine produces attractive rose to white pea-like flowers, providing lasting color in the garden landscape where other blooms might fade. Although native to Southern Europe, Lathyrus latifolius has naturalized widely across North America, demonstrating its hardiness and adaptability.
Characterized by clinging tendrils and broad-leaved foliage, the Perennial pea can scramble along the ground or climb supports up to nine feet high, making it a wonderfully versatile textural element. While it is easy to grow, gardeners should manage its rhizomatous nature, as it can become aggressively self-seeding and somewhat weedy if left unchecked.
For gardeners seeking a cottage garden staple that thrives in full sun and offers substantial coverage, Lathyrus latifolius is an excellent choice. Its ability to tolerate dry spells once established further enhances its appeal for low-maintenance borders and banks.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Fabaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Native Range: Southern Europe
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 6-9 ft
- Spread: 3-6 ft
- Bloom Time: June to September
- Bloom Description: Pink to white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting the Perennial pea is best done when conditions are mild, ensuring the soil is well-drained. This plant thrives in average, medium-moisture soils but performs best in fertile, humusy ground, especially thriving in cooler summer climates that promote good air circulation. Ensure the location receives full sun for the best flowering display, although some light shade is tolerated.
Consistent care is necessary for peak performance. Provide even moisture throughout the growing season, especially when buds are forming. While established plants show drought tolerance, consistent moisture yields better results. Apply regular fertilizer during the growing phase to support the extensive blooming power of Lathyrus latifolius. When watering, attempt to avoid overhead irrigation to mitigate potential fungal issues.
This vigorous grower spreads via rhizomes and seeds readily; therefore, deadheading spent flowers before they set seed is the best cultural practice to manage its spread and encourage reblooming. In preparation for winter, minimal cleanup is usually required, as it is a hardy perennial, but clipping back old, spent vines in late winter or early spring cleans up the appearance before new growth emerges.
Landscape Uses
The sprawling nature of Lathyrus latifolius makes it incredibly useful for covering large, difficult areas. It is ideal as a sprawling ground cover for slopes and embankments where its strong stems can anchor the soil. Alternatively, embrace its climbing ability by allowing it to twine up fences, walls, or sturdy supports, adding vertical interest to borders and cottage gardens.
Because it naturalizes so readily, consider reserving this plant for areas where you desire an informal, robust display, such as along property lines or in naturalized plantings. While it can be grown in containers, its rapid, extensive growth means very large pots are required, and containment might still be a management focus.
When planning companion plantings, choose partners that can tolerate the vigorous reach of the Perennial pea or that complement the strong vertical lines it provides. Look for sturdy perennials that won’t be smothered by its rapidly expanding vines during mid-summer.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lathyrus latifolius, commonly called everlasting pea, is a rhizomatous herbaceous long-lived perennial with trailing or climbing stems that produces attractive rose to white pea-like flowers over a long summer bloom. Although native to the Mediterranean (southern Europe and Northern Africa), everlasting pea has been cultivated in North America since the early 1700s, and has over time escaped gardens and widely naturalized throughout much of the United States and Canada (typically along roadsides, fencerows, waste areas, railroad right-of-ways and fields). Broadly-winged plant stems clad with oval, medium green, 3-inch leaflets in pairs will ramble indefinitely along the ground or climb by tendrils up nearby vegetation or support structures to 6-9’ tall. The showy flowers give way to flattened, pea-like seed pods, but be aware that both pods and seeds are toxic if ingested.
Tolerances
- Drought
Potential Problems
Generally, the Perennial pea maintains good resistance to serious insect or disease issues, though vigilance is required when plants are young. Slugs and snails often target tender new growth, so protection for emerging shoots is crucial during early spring. As the season progresses, watch for potential pests such as aphids or the pea moth.
For disease management, the main concerns are fungal issues common to the pea family. Good air circulation is vital; sited plants in areas with stagnant air will be more susceptible to powdery mildew, rust, and gray mold. Ensuring watering is directed to the soil rather than the foliage can help keep fungal spores down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Perennial pea suitable for?
The Lathyrus latifolius is hardy across a wide range, suitable for USDA Zones 3 through 8.
How large does Perennial pea grow?
This vining plant typically reaches heights between 6 to 9 feet and spreads outward from 3 to 6 feet.
When does Perennial pea bloom?
You can expect consistent color, with the showy blooms appearing from June all the way through September.
What sun exposure does Perennial pea need?
For the most consistent and heaviest blooming, Lathyrus latifolius requires full sun exposure in the garden.
Conclusion
The hardiness and extended blooming period make the Perennial pea a reliable choice for adding robust vertical coverage or aggressive ground cover to challenging spots in the garden. Remember that while Lathyrus latifolius is low-maintenance once established, managing its vigorous self-seeding is key to keeping it contained. Before planting, confirm that its USDA Zone fits your local climate and plan adequate support structures if you wish to enjoy its full climbing potential.
Companion Planting
Given the extensive growth habit of Lathyrus latifolius, companions should be selected that do not mind competition or can tolerate being partially shaded by the vine during peak summer. Sturdy, clump-forming perennials like Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) or ornamental grasses work well, as they offer strong vertical contrast without being easily overwhelmed. Allow plenty of space between the Perennial pea and other plants to ensure good airflow, which is crucial for disease prevention.
In cottage garden settings, pair the vine with shorter, late-blooming plants whose foliage can hide the less attractive lower stems of the pea. For instance, staking the pea near mature Lavender or certain hardy Geranium varieties can provide a beautiful layered effect as the vine scrambles upward.
Propagation Tips
While Lathyrus latifolius readily self-seeds, propagation by division is an effective way to manage the plant and gain new specimens with predictable growth. Division should be executed in early spring before new growth begins vigorously, or in early fall. Dig carefully around the clump to lift the root ball, taking care not to damage the thick, fleshy rhizomes too severely. It is often beneficial to divide mature clumps into sections containing at least two healthy buds or shoots.
Alternatively, gardeners can collect the flattened seed pods late in the season; however, scarifying the seeds (lightly scratching the seed coat) prior to sowing them directly into the garden after the danger of hard frost has passed will significantly improve germination rates. Keep newly sown areas consistently moist until seedlings become established.
