Perennial Sweet Pea in Our Homes

Sweet pea (lat. Lathyrus) is a perennial flower, known to have over 200 species in its genus, growing throughout the entire northern hemisphere, as well as in southern Africa and South America. However, only some of them are used as ornamental plants. The most well-known is the annual climbing fragrant sweet pea. Of the perennial species, the following two are mainly considered.

Lathyrus latifolius

Native to southern Europe, it grows to a height of 100 - 200 cm. It forms long stems that climb using tendrils. The stem is four-sided, distinctly winged, adorned with grey-green, pinnate, ovate-elliptical leaves. In the leaf axils, leafless stems grow, bearing 5 - 8 butterfly-shaped flowers in white or pink to carmine red colours. However, the flowers are not fragrant.

The plants are relatively undemanding and grow well in any reasonably good soil, suffer from nothing and will last in place for many years. They tolerate grass competition and considerable drought well. They thrive best in a sunny location. They are very suitable for climbing fences, pergolas, gazebos, etc. On the ground without support, they create dense growths about 30 cm high, making them ideal for covering various sunny slopes and banks. They are propagated mainly by seed.

Lathyrus vernus

Native to Europe through to Siberia. The plant forms compact bushes without runners. It is adorned with light green, glossy, ovate leaflets. Red-violet flowers appear in groups of 5 - 15 in dense clusters. It is a hardy plant that thrives in any humus-rich soil with sufficient moisture, in partial shade to full shade. It can be used in groups of spring flowers. It is propagated by division and seed.