Lathyrus

RHS Genus Guide

Lathyrus are loved by gardeners for their colourful and often sweetly-scented pea-like flowers. A mainstay of the cottage or cutting garden, climbing annual sweet peas give summer-long fragrance and colour. Add spring or late summer interest with perennial or everlasting peas; what they lack in scent they make up for by returning year after year. All are easy to grow.

RHS/Helen Jermyn

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RHS Recommended

Lathyrus

sweet pea 'King Edward VII'

Lathyrus odoratus 'King Edward VII'

sweet pea 'King Edward VII'

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sweet pea 'Matucana'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Matucana'

sweet pea 'Matucana'

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

everlasting pea 'Rosa Perle'

Lathyrus latifolius 'Rosa Perle'

everlasting pea 'Rosa Perle'

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

two-flowered everlasting pea

Lathyrus grandiflorus

two-flowered everlasting pea

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 1–1.5 metres

sweet pea 'High Scent'

Lathyrus odoratus 'High Scent'

sweet pea 'High Scent'

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sweet pea 'Charlie's Angel'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Charlie's Angel'

sweet pea 'Charlie's Angel'

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sweet pea 'Jilly'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Jilly'

sweet pea 'Jilly'

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sweet pea 'Mrs Bernard Jones

Lathyrus odoratus 'Mrs Bernard Jones'

sweet pea 'Mrs Bernard Jones

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sweet pea 'Valerie Harrod'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Valerie Harrod'

sweet pea 'Valerie Harrod'

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

spring pea

Lathyrus vernus

spring pea

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Award of Garden Merit

Plants for pollinators

See all Lathyrus