Botanical name: Lathyrus sylvestris‍ ‍
Folk names: perennial pea

Type: Perennial

Wildlife: Nectar for long-tongued insects through to early autumn. A caterpillar plant for the rare Short-tailed Blue butterfly which could establish here as the climate changes (ref. Emorsgate Seeds).

Flowers: June to August

Decorative merit: Rose-pink pea-like flowers (non scented) on scrambling tendrils, that can be trained to decoratively clamber and provide colour when other flowering plants are fading into late summer.

Where: Sun or part shade. Train its scrambling stems to to cover bare fence, trellis, habitat heaps or adorn other plants and shrubs. Dies back, growing new foliage and flowers the following summer.

Folklore: Do you know any stories about our native perennial pea?

Pea family relative of red and white clover, and birdsfoot trefoil.

Donate seeds to Exeter Seed Bank