# broad-leaved sweet pea (*Lathyrus latifolius*) The broad-leaved sweet pea is a lovely flower that grows in many gardens. It has big, green leaves and colorful flowers that can be pink, purple, or white. These flowers smell sweet and attract butterflies! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 28 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![broad-leaved sweet pea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lathyrus_latifolius_%28p%C3%A8sol_bord%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Victor M. Vicente Selvas, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lathyrus_latifolius_%28p%C3%A8sol_bord%29.jpg) ## Appearance The broad-leaved sweet pea has vibrant clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers on long, winged stems. Its most distinctive feature is its pairs of wide, flattened leaves, which give the plant its name. These features help it climb and sprawl gracefully. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Lathyrus ## Interesting facts - Even though it's called 'sweet pea,' its seeds are not for eating and should be avoided! - Its scientific name, Lathyrus latifolius, means 'broad-leaved vetchling' in Latin! - This tough perennial can live for many years, often growing back bigger and stronger each spring! - Unlike many sweet peas, the broad-leaved variety has little to no fragrance, letting its vibrant colors shine! ## Special abilities - **Climbing Conqueror:** Broad-leaved sweet pea can grow strong tendrils that wrap around supports, helping it climb high to reach more sunlight. - **Nitrogen Ninja:** This plant has special bacteria in its roots that help it enrich the soil with important nutrients, aiding its own growth. - **Root Resilience:** Broad-leaved sweet pea can grow deep, tough roots, helping it survive dry spells and grow back year after year. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-300 cm - **Spread:** 60-180 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Feeds on flower nectar and pollen - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacterium (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Lives in roots, fixes nitrogen for plant - **Eats:** Grey field slug (*Deroceras reticulatum*) — May feed on leaves and young shoots ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking flowers. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify broad-leaved sweet pea? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is broad-leaved sweet pea? 150-300 cm ### How wide does broad-leaved sweet pea spread? 60-180 cm ### How big are the flowers on broad-leaved sweet pea? 2-4 cm ### When does broad-leaved sweet pea bloom? Summer ### Is broad-leaved sweet pea edible? No ### Is broad-leaved sweet pea toxic? Mild ### What is broad-leaved sweet pea's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Alder Creek Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alder-creek-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Gadsden Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gadsden-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Hoffner Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoffner-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District [View all places to see broad-leaved sweet pea](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/broad-leaved-sweet-pea) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Broad-leaved Sweet Pea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broad-leaved-sweet-pea)