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Herbaceous Perennial

Lathyrus palustris

marsh pea

A deciduous perennial climber reaching up to 1.2m, with a sprawling or climbing habit that uses tendrils to support itself among surrounding vegetation. It has narrow, spear-shaped leaflets, arranged in pairs, and pinkish-purple flowers up to 2cm wide, characteristic of the pea family, that bloom from July to August

Other common names

marsh vetchling

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Poorly–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

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: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing, Trailing
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: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in permanently moist soil in sun or partial shade. May also be grown in very shallow water at pool margins. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required, tidy after flowering if necessary

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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