Sweet pea (Lathyrus cassius)
Care, watering, light and tips for Sweet pea on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Sweet pea
Lathyrus odoratus, commonly known as Sweet Pea, is a charming annual climbing plant from the Fabaceae family, prized for its fragrant and showy flowers. Its delicate blooms, which flower in a wide range of colors from pure whites to deep reds and vibrant purples, grow on long, slender stems. It is ideal for beautifying pergolas, trellises, or fences, and its flowers are excellent for bouquets and floral arrangements, filling the air with their sweet scent.
Native range
Italy and the Mediterranean basin
Care tips
Sweet Peas thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for abundant flowering. They prefer well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, and slightly alkaline; ensure the substrate is kept consistently moist, but not waterlogged. A common mistake is not providing adequate support for climbing from the beginning, which can hinder their growth and flowering. Pinching out the growing tips when the plant is young encourages bushier branching and more blooms.
How to save a dying Sweet pea
- Warning signs
- Yellowing or wilting leaves, no flowering, soft stems.
- First aid
- Check watering, prune spent blooms, fertilize gently.
- What kills it
- Overwatering causing root rot or lack of support for climbing.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't too damaged and it gets timely care.