*Lathyrus latifolius Linnaeus. Common name: Everlasting Pea, Perennial Sweet Pea. Phenology: May-Oct. Habitat: Roadsides, fencerows, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.
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
Links to other floras: = Lathyrus latifolius - FNA11.2
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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Horticultural Information
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