Lathyrus

( lah - THYE - russ )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Peavine or Vetchling, this genus includes species of annual or perennial plants that can be vining or bushy and produce flowers and fruits in spring and summertime. Many species are commonly cultivated as garden plants, both as ornamentals and as crops. Flowers are pea-shaped, and commonly are seen in maroon, red, pink, white, purple or blue. Grow Lathyrus as vertical interest on trellises or, as ground covers on sloped areas, in cottage garden borders, or simply to attract pollinators to the garden. Take care when planting these flowers, as ingestion of plant parts can is toxic to grazing livestock.

Lathyrus Species and Varietals

The genus Lathyrus is a member of the plant family Fabaceae, and includes 181 species. The genus name is derived from the Greek word lathyros (λάθυρος) which means Pea or Pulse. Plants in this genus are closely related to True Peas (Pisum), Vetch, and Lentils. Lathyrus plants can be grown in all zones (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Lathyrus angulatus (Angled Pea, Angular Pea, Angled Peavine, Slender Wild Pea)
Native to Europe and north Africa, this species is an annual herb with hairless stems and tiny coiling tendrils. Flowers are solitary, and petals are bicolored purple and lavender. Fruit is a hairless dehiscent pod. Individual plants grow to reach between 4 and 24 inches tall when mature. Fruits do not have venation. This species is considered invasive in California and the Pacific Northwestern region in the United States as well as Australia.

Lathyrus annuus (Annual Vetchling, Fodder Pea, Annual Yellow Vetchling)
These climbing herbaceous plants prefer freshwater wetland habitats, and have broad leaves. Individual plants top out around 14.5 inches tall. Flowers are yellow to orange, depending on the varietal. Cultivar 'Ms. Penny' (pictured) has orange flowers, and 'Hotham Red' produces coral-colored blooms.

Lathyrus aphaca (Yellow Pea, Yellow Vetchling, Yellow Vetch)
These plants produce solitary light yellow flowers and pea-like fruits. They are native to the Middle East and are not commonly eaten, as the peas contain narcotics and are toxic in large quantities. Individual plants reach up to 40 inches tall when mature and in bloom. This species is considered invasive in central and southern Asia, Europe, the Pacific Northwest and Northeastern United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Lathyrus aureus (Golden Pea, Spring Vetchling, Golden Yellow Pea)
Native to Europe and the Middle East, these plants produce many erect spikes of dusky yellow to orange flowers in spring and summertime, and are great ornamentals for sunny to partially shaded areas of the garden. Plants in this species will typically reach up to 12-24 inches tall and wide, and have more of a clumping, bushy growth habit.

Lathyrus belinensis (Belin Pea, Belin Sweet Pea)
This species was discovered and collected in 1988 in Türkiye by botanists Nigel Maxted and David John Goyder. This is a critically endangered species, and produces two-tone yellow and peach flowers with noticeable veining. They are rarely grown outside of their native range as ornamental plants due to the scarcity of the species. Individual plants reach up to 36 inches tall.

Lathyrus biflorus (Twoflower Pea, Two-Flowered Pea)
Endemic to Humboldt County, California, this little-known species of wild pea has thin, tough hairy stems and tiny, bristly tendrils. Flowers are greenish-white and bloom in pairs, hence the common name 'Twoflower Pea'. Fruiting pods are hairless. These are small plants that reach just 3 inches tall at maturity.

Lathyrus cicera (Red Pea, Red Vetchling, Flatpod Peavine, Chickling Vetch)
Native to Europe, north Africa, and the Middle East, this species is a hairless annual climbing herb that has a slightly winged stem. Flowers are red, and pods that follow are hairless. This species is known to cause Lathyrism. Individual plants reach up to between 8 and 12 inches tall when mature.

Lathyrus clymenum (Spanish Vetchling, Crimson Pea)
Native to the Mediterranean, this species produces flowers with crimson and pink petals that bloom in spring and summertime. These plants are a bit delicate, susceptible to drought, heat waves, and strong coastal or inland winds. Seeds are used to make a popular Greek dish, Fava Santorinis. When these plants are mature, they reach about 1-3 feet tall. These plants are considered weedy, but not invasive.

Lathyrus delnorticus (Del Norte Pea, Del Norte Peavine)
These rare, wild pea plants are native to the Klamath Mountains in Oregon and northern California, and are hairless perennial herbs. Tendrils are branched and coiled. Flower infloresences are comprised of up to 10 lavender-pink or cream-colored flowers. Individual plants reach up to 8 to 32 inches tall when mature.

Lathyrus formosus (Vavilovia formosa) (Winged Pea, Perennial Mountain Pea)
These plants are native primarily to the Middle East and the Caucasus, and were first formally described in 1812. They grow well in high mountainous regions amongst shale rock. Seed pods are winged, hence the common name Winged Pea. Flowers are pink, yellow, and cream-colored.

Lathyrus grandiflorus (Two-Flowered Everlasting Pea, Large-Flowered Everlasting Pea)
This species, native to southern Europe, has greyish to pure green leaves and produces magenta-pink and red flowers in late summertime. This is a hardy species of Pea, able to survive temperatures down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Flowers are unscented. These plants, once established are robust and will clamber and climb over other nearby structures and plants.

Lathyrus hirsutus (Caley Pea, Singletary Pea, Hairy Vetchling, Austrian Winter Pea)
This species is native to north Africa, Europe, and Asia, and is an annual herb with a smooth, winged stem. Flowers are bicolored, in combinations of blue, white, and pink. Pods are hairy. This species is considered invasive in the Southeast and Midwest regions and California in the United States and Australia.

Lathyrus japonicus (Sea Pea, Beach Pea, Circumpolar Pea, Sea Vetchling)
This herbaceous perennial produces climbing green stems that attach to other plants and structures via tendrils. Broad flowers are purple-blue and white, blooming in mid- to late- summer, and leaves are greyish-green. Pods are long and brown. These plants enjoy growing along coastlines in stony or sandy medium.

Lathyrus jepsonii (Delta Tule Pea, Jepson's Pea, Delta Peavine)
Endemic to California, this species of Pea grows in a variety of habitats, including forests and estuaries. Flowers are pink to purple in color, and bloom in inflorescences of up to 15 blossoms. There are two varieties of this species, including Lathyrus jepsonii jepsonii (a rare cultivar that grows in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta) and Lathyrus jepsonii californicus (a smaller variety that is sometimes hairy).

Lathyrus laevigatus (Smooth Pea, Ochre-Colored Vetchling)
This species is native to Europe, and can reach up to 20 inches tall. The species produces small, cream-colored to orange-tinted unscented flowers that bloom in inflorescences of between 3 and 17 flowers each. Flowers rise above the foliage, and these plants take on more of a bushy habit than others in the genus.

Lathyrus lanszwertii (Nevada Sweet Pea, Peavine, Mountain Pea, Nevada Pea, Aspen Peavine)
This species is native to western North America, and has lavender, fuchsia, or white flowers held in dangling clusters. There is a lot of variation in this species, and several subspecies have been established. Plants are sprawling to upright and reach 8-24 inches tall at maturity.

Lathyrus latifolius (Perennial Peavine, Perennial Pea, Broad-Leaved Everlasting Pea, Everlasting Pea)
These plants are native to Europe but have naturalized themselves in many areas of the globe, popping up in areas with disturbed soil and along roadways. Foliage is bluish-green, and flowers are pink and white. Seedpods are flattened, and gradually turn brown. Plants reach 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. This species is considered highly invasive in California, Oregon, and Washington in the United States as well as Australia.

Lathyrus linifolius (Bitter Vetch, Heath Pea, Bitter Vetchling)
This colorful-flowered species has been brought into recent medical attention due to its use as an appetite suppressant, and is native to Europe and Asia. Dark-colored tubers attach to root systems, and flowers emerge reddish-pink, fading to shades of purple and blue and creating a rainbow effect. They typically grow in grasslands, woodland edges, hedgerows, and banks. To two feet tall.

Lathyrus littoralis (Silky Beach Pea, Beach Pea, Gray Beach Pea)
These plants are native to western North America, and prefers to grow on sandy beaches and dunes. These perennials have downy dark blue-green foliage and produce bicolored white and purple-blue flowers in late spring through early summertime. Roots are edible.

Lathyrus nevadensis (Sierra Pea, Purple Peavine, Sierra Nevada Peavine, Nevada Pea)
This perennial herb has climbing stems and is native to forests and clearings in western North America. These vines produce tendrils, which they use to attach to structures and other plants. These plants can spread vegetatively through underground rhizomes. Flowers are bicolored magenta-purple and white.

Lathyrus niger (Black Pea, Blackening Flat Pea, Black Bitter Vetch)
This European native has foliage that blackens as it dies, hence the plant's common names. Flowers appear in June and July, opening red and fading to purple and blue. Individual plants reach up to between 12 and 31 inches tall at maturity.

Lathyrus nissolia (Grass Vetchling, Grass Pea, Grassy Vetch)
This distinct species has grassy foliage, and is an annual plant without true leaves, tendrils, or leaflets. Stalks are flattened, resembling blades of grass. Crimson flowers bloom in June and July, and are borne singularly. These plants prefer neutral to acidic soil, and are considered rare. Plants in this species typically reach up to between 12 and 36 inches tall when mature. This species is considered invasive in California, Australia, and Ireland.

Lathyrus ochrus (Cyprus Vetch, Psara, Ochrus Vetch, Pale Pea, Yellow-Flowered Pea)
These climbing plants have light greyish green flattened foliage and produce white flowers. They prefer shade and moist soil. Individual plants in this species reach up to 2 feet tall when mature, and produces climbing vines that can stretch to over 6.5 feet long.

Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea)
This annual climbing plant with terminal tendrils has many cultivars with various flower colors (the true species flower color is purple). This species is native to Sicily, southern Italy, and Aegean Islands. Blooms are usually strongly scented, flowering in spring and summertime. To 3-7 feet tall when mature. This species is invasive in New Zealand and the Dominican Republic.

Lathyrus palustris (Marsh Pea, Marsh Vetchling, Marsh Peavine)
This species is native to Europe, Asia, and North America, and has branched, coiled tendrils which it uses to climb structures and other plants. Flowers are pinkish purple, blooming in groups of up to 8 at stem tips in July and August. These plants reach between 10 and 31 inches tall at maturity, and pods are flat and brown. These plants naturally grow in moist, even wet places like marshlands in full sun.

Lathyrus pauciflorus (Fewflowered Peavine, Steppe Sweet Pea, Fewflower Peavine, Utah Sweet Pea)
Blooms of this species are blue to purplish, with touches of white. These plants bloom in April through June, and produce vining stems supporting flattened greenish grey foliage. To 1 to 2 feet tall when mature.

Lathyrus polyphyllus (Leafy Pea, Leafy Peavine, Oregon Pea)
This species produces magenta to pink flowers that fade to purple and blue with age, and is native to Washington down through Northern California. Leaves are green and flattened, and stems are vining and produce tendrils for attachment. These plants can reach up to between 1 and 4 feet tall when mature.

Lathyrus pratensis (Meadow Vetchling, Yellow Pea, Meadow Pea, Fingers-and-Thumbs)
This plant will spread freely in the landscape, favoring damp grassy areas. Individual plants reach up to between 1 and 2 feet tall when fully grown. Stems are delicate, smooth, and slender, green leaves are flattened and yellow flowers bloom in June through August. This species is considered invasive in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska in North America.

Lathyrus rigidus (Stiff Pea, Rigid Pea, Stiff Peavine)
This species forms a subshrub of upright green stems and foliage, topped with lavender-pink to white flowers. These plants are native to California through Idaho, and are important members of sagebrush scrub habitats. Fruits are hairless legume pods. Individual plants reach up to about a foot tall and spreads to form dense clumps.

Lathyrus rotundifolius (Persian Everlasting Pea, Round-Leaved Vetchling)
Reaching about 5 feet tall at maturity, this species is native to Turkey, and produces brick-red flowers in summertime. These plants require full sun, and can handle temperatures down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants are wonderful choices for areas that need filling in; they will scramble and climb over fences and even trees. This species produces plants that reach between 6 and 8 feet tall with a spread of between 2 and 8 feet wide.

Lathyrus sativus (Grass Pea, Cicerchia, Blue Sweet Pea, Chickling Pea, Chickling Vetch, Indian Pea, White Pea, White Vetch, Almorta, Khesari)
This species is native to Asia and East Africa, where it is used as livestock fodder and as an 'insurance crop' (for when all other crops fail). Flowers are open and blue, white and pink in color. Plants typically reach between 1 and 3 feet tall when mature.

Lathyrus setifolius (Brown Vetchling, Perennial Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea, Broad-Leaved Everlasting Pea, Perennial Peavine, Wild Sweet Pea)
These plants have a self-supporting growth habit and produce red and white flowers with dark red veining. These plants reach about a foot tall at maturity. To between 6 and 10 feet tall when fully grown; vining stems use tendrils to attach to structures and other plants.

Lathyrus sphaericus (Grass Pea, Round-Seeded Vetchling, Grass Peavine, Red Grass Pea)
These annual plants are native to north Africa and Eurasia, and produces reddish-orange flowers. Fruits are hairless legume pods that have striping on them. Foliage is grassy, with terminal tendrils. These can grow in many areas, including in disturbed soils. These are smaller plants, typically reaching to just 6 and 12 inches tall when fully grown.

Lathyrus splendens (Pride of California, Campo Pea)
This species of Pea is native to Baja California, Mexico, and southern California. Plants form climbing perennial vines with coiling tendrils and reddish-pink flowers that bloom in spring and summertime. Stems can reach up to 10 feet in length, and will climb surrounding structures and plants.

Lathyrus sulphureus (Snub Pea, Sulphur Pea, Brewer's Pea, Brewer's Peavine)
Native to the mountains of California and Oregon, where it grows in forests and woodlands. Flowers are light yellow and fade to orange as they age, producing a multi-colored overall effect. Individual plants in this species can reach up to 3 feet tall when mature.

Lathyrus sylvestris (Flat Pea, Narrow-Leaved Everlasting Pea, Flat Peavine, Everlasting Pea)
These natives of Africa, Asia, and Europe forms a foliage mat from which flower stems emerge, each supporting an inflorescence of three to ten salmon pink and white flowers. These plants reach about 80 inches maximum, and produce attachment tendrils that are used to climb structures and other plants in the landscape. Cultivar 'Lathco' is a popular ornamental variety of this species. This species is considered invasive in North America and New Zealand.

Lathyrus tingitanus (Tangier Pea)
Native to southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa, this species is an annual climber with a winged stem and tendrils. Flowers produced by these plants are purple-pink and a little over an inch wide. Inflorescences hold between 1 and 3 flowers each. Tangier Pea plants reach up to between 5 and 8 feet tall when mature. This species is considered highly invasive in southern Australia and in the Pacific Northwest region and California in the United States.

Lathyrus torreyi (Torrey's Peavine, Torrey's Pea, Redwood Pea)
This perennial species is native to woodland areas in Washington, Oregon and California. Plants produce small bicolored light blue and white flowers in springtime. These plants will reach up to 2 to 16 inches tall at maturity, and are typically found growing in open areas, trail edges, and woods.

Lathyrus undulatus (Wavy Pea, Early Everlasting Pea)
This perennial species reaches between 3 and 6.5 feet tall at maturity and enjoys growing in temperate climates. These Pea plants are native to Turkey, and produce pink, white and red flowers in May. Fruits (pods) follow in June and July.

Lathyrus vernus (Spring Pea, Spring Vetchling, Spring Vetch)
These plants are native to forested areas in Siberia and Europe, and form dense clumps of foliage with pointed leaves. Flowers bloom in springtime, opening purple and turning blue as they age. Individual plants can reach up to between 6 and 18 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide when mature and in bloom. Cultivar 'Alboroseus' is a choice ornamental selection.

Lathyrus vestitus (Pacific Pea, Wild Pea, Wild Sweetpea, Common Pacific Pea, Conyon Pea)
These plants are native to western North America (mainly woodlands and chaparral forests in California), and form perennial pea vines with showy flower inflorescences. Blooms can be white, violet, purple, or lavender. Individual plants can reach up to between 1 and 8 feet tall, and their stems will climb structures and other plants in the landscape.

Caring for Lathyrus

Take care when planting these flowers, as ingestion of plant parts can is toxic to grazing livestock. Lathyrus prefer to be planted in full sun to partial shade. They will flower and produce best in full sun, but some ornamental varieties are also important members of woodland gardens, where they enjoy the filtered shade provided by taller trees and shrubs. Six hours each day is ideal for optimal growth and flowering for most crop species. Before planting, decide whether to support the plant with a trellis or structure of some kind to climb. Bush-type varieties will not need support. Ensure that soil is well-draining before installing plants; they do not like to have wet feet. Pea plants prefer neutral to alkaline soil that has a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5. If soil is overly clay or does not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic material and/or sand to improve drainage, aeration and structure. If soils are particularly poor or hard to work with, it may be necessary to grow these plants in raised beds or containers. Make sure that containers and raised beds have adequate drainage. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of plants to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperature, and increase soil moisture retention. Water plants consistently, especially during flowering and fruiting, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid issues with root rot taking hold.

Amend the planting area with organic compost to supply plants with necessary nutrients for the flowering and fruiting season. This should be sufficient, though if plants seem to be struggling or if they are growing in particularly poor soils, they may benefit from a balanced (10-10-10), slow-release fertilizer application once a month during the growing season. Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen (N), as this will encourage a lot of leafy growth at the expense of flowering and subsequent fruiting. Pruning is relatively simple for these plants. Simply remove dead, damaged, diseased, or errant growth as it becomes problematic, and pinch tips back to encourage a bushier growth. Remove dead flowers on ornamental varieties as they fade to encourage new blooms to form. Once flowering and fruiting has finished, plants can be cut back to the ground to encourage a new flush of growth. There are some species of Lathyrus that are winter-hardy (such as Lathyrus latifolius), and will come back year after year if cared for properly. In areas with extreme cool temperatures, plants will need some protection. Make sure mulch is applied to the base of plants, and use frost cloths when necessary to protect foliage and shoots.

Propagation

Lathyrus can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Pea plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Lathyrus by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 5 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about two weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Lathyrus by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Lathyrus plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them. Seeds can be stored for between 5 and 10 years' time and still be partially viable, though sowing before five years have passed is recommended for best results.
Soak seeds in lukewarm water for a few days' time to soften the seed coat. Remove them and lay them out to dry.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Pea plants produce seeds inside of elongated pods that emerge green and mature to brown as they dry out and release their contents.

Lathyrus seeds.

Problems and Pests

Certain species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Lathyrus plants are susceptible to the following issues and pests: