I noticed this plant growing in an old, neglected container in my neighborhood. Even in Denver, with less than 20" of rain a year (and mu...Read Morech of that coming early in the season), this vine manages to produce flowers without any care.
Given that ability to survive, I am considering growing this from a container so it cannot spread. The flower has an appealing shape and color.
A beautiful, tough, easy, adaptable plant with showy spring flowers. This should be far more often grown than it is.
Bloom...Read Mores for over a month here, late March into May, which is a long time for a spring bloomer. Tolerates dry shade conditions once established.
In the species, the flowers are purple/magenta aging to near blue. There are cultivars/seed strains in white, true pink and near blue.
This may go dormant in the hot summers of the southeastern US, but here in Massachusetts it looks good straight through fall. I plant it among hostas or ferns where it will survive happily in their shade.
I have not seen it self-sow here. Takes several years to bulk up and show its best. In one garden here it's the rabbits' favorite food.
Whoever established this entry confused the common name of this species with those of Lathyrus latifolius, the perennial sweet pea/everlasting sweet pea.
Easy from seed. It is said to sulk after transplanting or division---I've never attempted either---but division is said to be possible after flowering.
I acquired a plant of L.v. alboroseus from Arrowhead Alpines. It has survived two winters here, I am zone 3b. One winter was deep snow, t...Read Morehe other was not. So far so good. It is in part shade in a spot where the snow melts late.
I am growing the spring vetchling from seed - I only have 5 and I'm trying to figure out if I should sow outdoors now April 1, in my NW C...Read MoreT garden, or start it from seed indoors.
I must say, I must have the best L. vernus plants on the earth. They self seed and bloom in the second year. I have divided and transpl...Read Moreanted them in the heat of August, and they don't even flag or drop leaves. My soil is predominantly clay, which means the top 5" or so dries up quickly, while below that the water might not drain for several days, and still the Lathyrus thrives! Next year I'll collect seeds and offer them here, since these plants are difficult to find in these parts.
Even though it blooms for only a couple of weeks, and is otherwise not spectacular, it is well worth trying.
Further comments: my Lathyrus is thriving in dry shade, wet shade, and full sun in wet and dry.
Warnings: It is a very prolific self-seeder, and the seedlings are deep rooted and require a trowel to remove. Also, the rabbit that got stuck in my garden seemed to prefer them to other plants.
A couple years back I planted what I thought were annual sweet peas but they have never died so I assume they're perennial. They have al...Read Moreso never bloomed. Maybe perennial sweet peas take some time to get established before blooming. I have them in containers which hasn't hindered their growth but that could be why they haven't bloomed.
Have attempted to grow twice - unsuccessfully. Didn't make it though the winters both times. Although it is frequently sold in this zon...Read Moree (4), not regularly hardy here.
I bought this last summer and it was only a few leaves. A few of the leaves dired up due to dry soil, but it's sprouting up now and from ...Read Morewhat I can tell from the tiny shoots.....it's coming back well. I look forward to seeing it bloom!
St. John's, NL (Zone 5b) | December 2004 | positive
What a great plant in mid-late spring. This little pea forms a bush to about 12-15" and is smothered in pink flowers. It does have a te...Read Morendency to self-seed, so I promtly dead-head after the blooms have faded. It sprouts as soon as the snow melts but seems to be able to cope with spring frosts. I grow it in the rock garden, but in the wild, it often grows in lightly shaded woodlands, so could be used in such a location. Easy from seed but resents transplanting once established.
I noticed this plant growing in an old, neglected container in my neighborhood. Even in Denver, with less than 20" of rain a year (and mu...Read More
A beautiful, tough, easy, adaptable plant with showy spring flowers. This should be far more often grown than it is.
Bloom...Read More
I acquired a plant of L.v. alboroseus from Arrowhead Alpines. It has survived two winters here, I am zone 3b. One winter was deep snow, t...Read More
I am growing the spring vetchling from seed - I only have 5 and I'm trying to figure out if I should sow outdoors now April 1, in my NW C...Read More
I must say, I must have the best L. vernus plants on the earth. They self seed and bloom in the second year. I have divided and transpl...Read More
A couple years back I planted what I thought were annual sweet peas but they have never died so I assume they're perennial. They have al...Read More
Lovely early spring bloomer, and hardy here in zone 3 (Calgary, Alberta, Canada).
Have attempted to grow twice - unsuccessfully. Didn't make it though the winters both times. Although it is frequently sold in this zon...Read More
I bought this last summer and it was only a few leaves. A few of the leaves dired up due to dry soil, but it's sprouting up now and from ...Read More
This little plant is a charmer.
What a great plant in mid-late spring. This little pea forms a bush to about 12-15" and is smothered in pink flowers. It does have a te...Read More