Lathyrus odoratus
9 October 2026

Plant name: *Lathyrus odoratus*
**Common name:** Sweet pea
**Cultivar:** Not reliably identifiable from the photograph
**Identification confidence:** High
**Distinguishing features:** A climbing annual with curling tendrils, paired grey-green leaflets and strongly pea-shaped purple flowers carried on slender stems.
**Mature height and spread:** Typically 1.5–2.4 m tall and 30–60 cm wide when supported.
**Flowering season:** Usually June to September, sometimes into October if regularly picked and deadheaded.
**Soil and light:** Grow in full sun in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Provide a trellis, netting or canes for support.
**Watering:** Water deeply during dry weather, particularly when flowering. Avoid repeatedly wetting the foliage, as sweet peas can develop powdery mildew.
**Feeding:** Once flower buds appear, apply a high-potash liquid feed every 10–14 days if growing in containers or poor soil.
**Pruning and care:** Tie young shoots to their support until the tendrils take hold. Pick flowers frequently and remove developing seed pods to prolong flowering. Sweet peas are annuals, so remove plants after flowering and compost them if healthy.
