Annual · Fabaceae family
sweet pea
Lathyrus odoratus
In short a 10-second read
Sweet pea (annual) grows to 0.9–2.5 m tall and 0.6–0.9 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in average soil. It flowers in May–July; the flowers are white, pink, red, purple, blue or orange.
× spread 0.6–0.9 m
Where to plant
Sun and soil.
It grows best in full sun, in average soil.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
average · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, loamy
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
May–July · white, pink, red, purple, blue or orange
Pruning
deadhead spent flowers (as needed); prune after flowering (as needed)
Planting
sow indoors: March, September; direct sowing: April–May
Winter protection
does not overwinter
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does sweet pea flower?
In May–July; the flowers are white, pink, red, purple, blue or orange.
Does sweet pea tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does sweet pea need?
At maturity 0.6–0.9 m wide and 0.9–2.5 m tall; recommended spacing 25 cm.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 16 expert sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (16)
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Lathyrus odoratus
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Lathyrus odoratus
- GBIF Vernacular Names API — Lathyrus odoratus
- Wikidata (CC0) — Lathyrus odoratus
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Lathyrus odoratus
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — lathyrus odoratus
- Pladias — Databáza českej flóry a vegetácie
- EPPO Global Database — Lathyrus odoratus
- RHS - Lathyrus odoratus
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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