PlantFiles: Everlasting Sweet Pea, Perennial Sweet Pea, Spring Pea, Spring Vetchling, Spring Vetch, Spring Bitte
Lathyrus vernus

Please tell me how to grow the spring vetchling from seed - I only have 5 so need to know if I can sow now April 1, in n my NW CT garden or should 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 transplanted 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.

Still, one of my favorite perennials.

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 also never bloomed. Do perennial sweet peas take some time to get established before blooming or should they bloom the first year? I have them in containers which hasn't hindered their growth but could that be why they haven't bloomed?

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 zone (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 what I can tell from the tiny shoots.....it's coming back well. I look forward to seeing it bloom!

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 tendency 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.