Sweet pea shrub's lovely foliage remains evergreen down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and in regions that are never touched by frost, it may bloom nearly year-round with purple-pink flowers that resemble those of the sweet pea plant.
Full Answer
Is Sweet Pea a perennial or annual?
Perennial Sweet Pea, Broad-Leaved Everlasting Pea, Everlasting Pea, Hardy Sweet Pea, Perennial Pea Award-winner Lathyrus latifolius, commonly known as Everlasting Pea or Perennial Sweet Pea is a vigorous climbing perennial that produces racemes of 5-11 vibrant rose to white pea-like flowers, 1 in. across (2.5 cm).
Is the everlasting pea a perennial?
The everlasting pea is easy to germinate, and a hardy perennial The Everlasting Pea will flower best grown in full sun, although it is tolerant of some shade. It growth is similar to the annual sweet pea clinging on with tendrils and it will climb or scramble over an obelisk, trellis or adjacent shrubs.
Do everlasting sweet peas come back to life in winter?
Unlike regular sweet peas, everlasting sweet peas are perennial and will come back to life in the spring. They will still disappear in winter before reappearing from their roots the following spring. How Do You look After Everlasting Sweet Peas? Everlasting sweet peas are a very hardy plant and don’t need much looking after.
How many varieties of everlasting peas are there?
There are about 20 varieties of everlasting Peas seed available to buy. There is one variety available to grow from seed called Lathyrus nervosus, Lord Anson's Blue Pea, which has a discernable sweet pea scent. It is a vigorous climbing plant, with blue/lavender coloured scented flowers.
Do I need to cut back everlasting sweet peas?
Cut perennial Lathyrus back to ground level in autumn or, preferably, leave the cutting back until February so the dead stems provide cover for wildlife in winter. Simply pull out and compost annual sweet peas once flowering has finished at the end of summer. In hot, dry seasons this might be a bit sooner.
Can sweet peas survive over winter?
Perennial sweet peas, yes there are annual varieties, are hardy in zones 4 to 8 and need little help to make it through the winter in these areas. Leave healthy plants stand for winter to increase hardiness. Prune the plants back to the ground in late winter or early spring before growth begins.
Do sweet peas come back after winter?
If you plan to grow sweet peas in the same garden spot again next year, you don't have to go to the trouble of saving seeds. As the seed pods dry, they pop open and drop their seeds to the ground. Next year's flowers will grow from these seeds.
Is Everlasting Pea invasive?
It has naturalized throughout the US, and also in Australia and beyond its native range (North Africa/Southern Europe) into Eastern and Northern Europe. The plant is noted as producing monocultures and invading natural areas. However it is heavily associated with disturbed sites and roadsides.
What do you do with sweet peas in the winter?
Autumn-sown sweet peas should be kept in their cold frame or greenhouse to overwinter. While you don't want to mollycoddle seedlings too much (cool temperatures will keep plants stocky and sturdy) they won't appreciate being repeatedly frozen, so add extra protection in frosty weather.
Do sweet peas come back annually?
If you want to grow them again, you'll need to replant new plants in your garden the following year. Most sweet pea varieties are annuals. 2. Perennial sweet peas: Perennial sweet peas come back year after year.
How long do sweet pea plants last?
There are annual and perennial types of sweet pea flowers. The annuals, Lathyrus odoratus, are usually highly fragrant climbers that last for one season and have to be sown fresh every year. The perennial or 'everlasting' types, Lathyrus latifolius, come back every spring, but most have little to no scent.
Do sweet peas reseed themselves?
Will sweet peas self-seed? Yes, in warmer climates. If you leave your sweet pea plants to turn to seed in fall, and allow those seed pods to pop open and disperse the seeds, it is absolutely possible for some to self-seed next year.
Are sweet pea flowers annual or perennial?
annualWhile the common sweet pea is an annual, there is also a perennial unscented broad-leaved everlasting pea, Lathyrus latiflolius. These are clambering plants, which can reach up to 6 or 7 feet and are hardy to zone 5; they are low maintenance plants that flower regularly year on year.
Are everlasting sweet peas poisonous?
Everlasting Peas are NOT edible! Acute ingestion may cause mild stomach upset.
Are sweet peas wildflowers?
Sweet Peas are also considered wildflowers. Once established, they will thrive and spread easily. If grown in a flower garden, they can get out of hand easily and overcrowd other flowers. Tip: To keep the flowers blooming, pick spent blooms before the seed begins to form.
Is Lathyrus Latifolius invasive?
This European native makes an attractive summer flowering plant, either sprawling over other herbacous perennials or climbing up a fence, trellis or shrub. Spreading but not too much, it can be distinguised from the more invasive Lathyrus grandiflorus by it's winged stems. Everlasting sweet pea.
What is the lowest temperature sweet peas survive?
Generally, though, sweet peas are classed as half hardy annuals and will be fine in dry frost up to -4°C (25°F). If temperatures do drop below that, you'll need to protect them with horticultural fleece.
Can sweet peas handle frost?
Sowing Sweet Peas Indoors Sow in seed-starting containers in early spring about 6 to 7 weeks before the last frost date, then plant out as soon as soil can be worked; sweet peas can handle light frosts.
What temperatures can sweet peas handle?
Heat will be what shuts them down in most climates. 80 °F is tough on a sweet pea and once you start seeing hot days and warm nights, the end may be near. Plants can handle warm days as long as they cool down to 45-50 °F at night, but many warm climate growers simply can't offer these conditions for long.
How cold can sweet pea seedlings tolerate?
during the day and no lower than 50 degrees F. (10 C.) at night. Peas will grow and produce outside of these temperatures though, as these are only the best conditions under which to grow them.
How many varieties of everlasting peas are there?
There are about 20 varieties of everlasting Peas seed available to buy. There is one variety available to grow from seed called Lathyrus nervosus, Lord Anson's Blue Pea, which has a discernable sweet pea scent.
What is the difference between annual peas and everlasting peas?
Most annual sweet peas are scented, hard ly any everlasting peas have scent.
Do everlasting peas need sun?
The Everlasting Pea needs attention in the summer to ensure it does not dry out and to check the tendrils so it does not become too tangled, but it is not as time consuming as the annual variety, and will return reliably each year. The Everlasting Pea will flower best grown in full sun, although tolerant of some shade.
Is climbing pea hard to grow?
Many climbing plants are more difficult/time consuming to grow think, Clematis, Wisteria and the annual sweetpea whereas the Everlasting Pea is refreshingly easy to grow. Annual Sweet Peas are lovely, but they are time consuming to seed and grow. The Everlasting Pea needs attention in the summer to ensure it does not dry out and to check ...
Is Everlasting Pea a shrub?
The Everlasting Pea is an attractive shrubby climber , easy to grow from seed with many delicate flowers, usually in soft pastel shades, blues and purples. There is also a pure white variety called "White Pearl". Many climbing plants are more difficult/time-consuming to grow think of Clematis, Wisteria and the annual sweetpea whereas the Everlasting Pea is refreshingly easy to grow.
Can you cut back peas in the fall?
Ensuring it has plenty of moisture will help to fend off powdery mildew . Except for cutting back the Pea in the autumn, the growing conditions for the annual and Everlasting Pea are really the same.
Can everlasting peas grow in shade?
The Everlasting Pea will flower best grown in full sun, although tolerant of some shade. It grows similarly to the annual sweet pea clinging on with tendrils and it will climb or scramble over an obelisk, trellis or adjacent shrubs. It is very hardy, H7 which means it will survive the most severe of winters. It is not particular about the soil ...
