General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 6 to 12 inches
Plant Spread: 6 to 12 inches
Leaves: Deciduous
Fruit: Other: 2 to 2 1/2 inch brown pods, each containing 8 to 12 seeds.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Blue
Purple
Other: Reddish-purple with red veins, maturing to violet-blue.
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Suitable Locations: Alpine Gardening
Uses: Cut Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Toxicity: Fruit is poisonous

Image
Common names
  • Spring Vetch
  • Perennial Sweet Pea
  • Spring Pea
  • Everlasting Sweet Pea
  • Spring Vetchling
  • Spring Bitte
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Lathyrus vernus
  • Synonym: Lathyrus vernus subsp. gracilis
  • Synonym: Lathyrus vernus f. macranthus

Photo Gallery
Location: Cowansville, Quebec, Canada
Date: 2007-05-11
Location: All pictures taken in/on my gardens/greenhouse/property
Date: 2024-04-05
Location: Alpine Garden Society show, Hexham UK
Date: 2009-03-28
Uploaded by gemini_sage
Location: Alpine Garden Society show, Hexham UK
Date: 2009-03-28
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2019-04-21
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-04-26
Location: Garden
Date: 2015-04

Courtesy Avant Gardens
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-04-26
Location: Aurora, On
Date: 2012-04-21
Uploaded by SongofJoy

Date: 2012-04-15
Location: My garden, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; zone 3.
Date: 2010-05-15

Image Courtesy of Monches Farm Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Aurora, On
Date: 2016-05-14
At Merlin's Hollow, On.
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-04-26

Photo Courtesy of Secret Garden Growers.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2013-06-13
Location: Washington
Date: 2016-04-19
Location: My garden, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; zone 3.
Date: 2012-12-06
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2015-04-25
Location: Washington 8b
Date: 2017-04-23
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by SunnyBorders (Aurora, Ontario - Zone 5b) on Apr 19, 2013 6:25 PM concerning plant:
    Attractive.
    Clump-forming.
  • Posted by growitall (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on Dec 6, 2012 10:54 PM concerning plant:
    This subspecies is distinguished from the species by its narrow foliage.
  • Posted by growitall (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on Dec 6, 2012 10:56 PM concerning plant:
    A non-vining Lathyrus species.

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page