PlantFiles: Everlasting Sweet Pea, Perennial Sweet Pea, Spring Pea, Spring Vetchling, Spring Vetch, Spring Bitte
Lathyrus vernus 'Albo-roseus'

This plant is hardy, and in this region, growing in partial shade, requires no watering other than the rain. It needs a support -- in my yard a weathered split-rail fence with stick pins stuck in places where the sweet pea's tendrils could curl around them. Other shoots of the plant can be attached to the tendrils of the first shoots after the first are firmly gripping the support. The prettiest display of blossoms was in early summer, but with deadheading, it continues to bloom nicely this August. This plant was eaten off to ground level (by rabbits?) the first year or two; now I have a low barrier to protect the shoots as they come out of the ground. Perennial sweet peas have no scent, but the flowers are lovely, and the shoots and leaves are attractive.

L. vernus ‘Alboroseus’ has pink and white flowers and grows to 35cm in height. It is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial that loves to grow in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Deadhead regularly then cut stems down to the ground in autumn. If you like to propagate it by dividing in early spring mind that they sometimes resent disturbance.

The plant may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.