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Annual BiennialClimber Wall Shrub

Lathyrus × hammettii 'Painted Porcelain'

An annual, deciduous climber with green foliage, reaching a height of around 200cm, and tricolour, strongly fragrant flowers appearing in the summer which are cream with rose-pink edges. Four or five flowers are produced per stem and colour intensity changes, depending on the temperature

Synonyms

Lathyrus 'Spanish Dancer'
Lathyrus 'Painted Porcelain'

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Potentially harmful: Pods and seeds are not edible. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Pods and seeds are not edible. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Lathyrus can be annuals or herbaceous or evergreen perennials, mostly climbing, with pinnate leaves ending in a tendril, and showy pea-like flowers, fragrant in some species
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant out seedlings 20-30cm apart after the final spring frost in well-drained but moisture-retentive humus-rich soil in full sun or very light dappled shade, and provide support. See sweetpea cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed: in milder areas sow during autumn, and overwinter the young plants in a cold frame or unheated glasshouse, or in colder areas sow in late March or April. Plant out when risk of frost has passed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Climber and wall shrubs
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut regularly to encourage more flowers; allowing seed pods to form will stop plants from flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, Fusarium wilt and sweet pea viruses

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