Lathyrus sylvestris L.
Everlasting Pea
Narrow-leaved everlasting-pea is a robust, scrambling native perennial of the pea family, related to the cultivated sweet pea but without the scent. It climbs and sprawls to a couple of metres using branched tendrils, its stems conspicuously winged and bearing paired, narrow, lance-shaped leaflets.
About
Narrow-leaved everlasting-pea is a robust, scrambling native perennial of the pea family, related to the cultivated sweet pea but without the scent. It climbs and sprawls to a couple of metres using branched tendrils, its stems conspicuously winged and bearing paired, narrow, lance-shaped leaflets. Through summer it produces long-stalked clusters of large pink to rose-purple flowers that fade towards blue, followed by slender seed pods.
It grows on grassy banks, hedgerows, scrub, open woodland, railway embankments and rough ground, often near the coast, favouring well-drained soils in sun or light shade. Native and reasonably frequent across England and Wales, thinning northwards and absent from Ireland, it flowers from June to August. The showy blooms are worked by long-tongued bumblebees, and as a legume it enriches the soil with nitrogen. A handsome, drought-tolerant climber for banks, fences and naturalistic planting.
Also known as
Flat Pea · Flat Peavine · Narrow Leaved Everlasting Pea · Narrow-Leaf Everlasting Pea · Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea
Synonyms
Lathyrus angustifolius · Lathyrus grandiflorus · Lathyrus heterophyllus · Lathyrus intermedius · Lathyrus noeanus · Lathyrus platyphyllos · Lathyrus platyphyllus · Lathyrus pyrenaicus · Lathyrus silvester · Lathyrus sylvestris angustifolius · Lathyrus sylvestris pyrenaicus
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.