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Fabaceae
Lathyrus

not marked as a favorite taxon *Lathyrus latifolius Linnaeus. Common name: Everlasting Pea, Perennial Sweet Pea. Phenology: May-Oct. Habitat: Roadsides, fencerows, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Taxonomy Comments: POWO (2024) recognizes two subspecies, with only ssp. latifolius introduced in North America.

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, FNA11.2, G, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NE, NS, NY, Pa, RAB, SE3, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WV, Isely (1998); > Lathyrus latifolius ssp. latifolius — POWO. Basionym: Lathyrus latifolius L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Lathyrus latifolius - FNA11.2

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Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image #1 of Lathyrus latifolius© Stan Gilliam | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Lathyrus latifolius© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Lathyrus latifolius© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Lathyrus latifolius© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Lathyrus latifolius© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Lathyrus latifolius© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Lathyrus latifolius© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Lathyrus latifolius© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Lathyrus latifolius© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Herbaceous perennial vine of roadsides, railroad right-of-ways, fencerows, fields and other open, disturbed areas. Native of s. Europe and n. Africa.

Stems: Stems sprawling or climbing, conspicuously winged, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate; on winged petioles with lance-shaped stipules at base; divided into 2 thick-textured, lance-shaped to oval leaflets up to 2 in. long, a branching tendril between them.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers 4-10 in dense racemes on stalks arising from leaf axils; rose-pink (occasionally white); about 1 in. long; with typical pea-flower shape, including a notched "banner" petal.

Fruits: Fruit a narrow, flattened, green (turning brown) pod.

Comments: This species has been cultivated in North America since the early 1700s, over time escaping gardens and becoming widely naturalized throughout much of the U.S. and Canada.

Height: 3-6 ft. long

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Herbaceous perennial vine of roadsides, railroad right-of-ways, fencerows, fields and other open, disturbed areas. Native of s. Europe and n. Africa.

stems: Stems sprawling or climbing, conspicuously winged, smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate; on winged petioles with lance-shaped stipules at base; divided into 2 thick-textured, lance-shaped to oval leaflets up to 2 in. long, a branching tendril between them.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers 4-10 in dense racemes on stalks arising from leaf axils; rose-pink (occasionally white); about 1 in. long; with typical pea-flower shape, including a notched "banner" petal.

fruits: Fruit a narrow, flattened, green (turning brown) pod.

comments: This species has been cultivated in North America since the early 1700s, over time escaping gardens and becoming widely naturalized throughout much of the U.S. and Canada.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southern Europe



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