# meadow pea (*Lathyrus pratensis*)

Meadow peas are lovely plants that grow in fields and meadows. They have pretty flowers that can be purple or yellow and are great for attracting bees and butterflies!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![meadow pea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Lathyrus_pratensis-_Habit.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Lathyrus_pratensis-_Habit.jpg)

## Appearance

The meadow pea is a slender plant with bright yellow, pea-like flowers growing in clusters. It has narrow, pointed leaves and curly tendrils that help it climb, making it stand out in grassy areas. The sunny yellow blooms often deepen in color as they mature.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Fabales
- **Family:** Fabaceae
- **Genus:** Lathyrus

## Interesting facts

- Its bright yellow flowers are often a sunny beacon in grassy fields!
- Many animals munch on meadow pea, making it an important snack in nature!
- Meadow pea belongs to the same plant family as lentils and chickpeas!
- The little seeds grow inside flat, green pods that look like tiny swords!

## Special abilities

- **Climbing Champion:** Meadow pea has special tendrils that act like tiny grappling hooks, helping it climb up other plants to reach sunlight.
- **Soil Superhero:** Meadow pea can enrich the soil with nutrients thanks to tiny helpers in its roots, making the ground healthier for itself and other plants.
- **Underground Explorer:** Meadow pea has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread out and create new plants, covering more ground efficiently.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-120 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — one of its key insect pollinators
- **Eaten by:** Domestic sheep (*Ovis aries*) — grazing animals browse its leaves and stems
- **Eaten by:** [Field vole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-vole) (*Microtus agrestis*) — voles nibble on its leaves and shoots

## Traits

- [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [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.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [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.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or picking plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify meadow 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 meadow pea?

30-120 cm

### How wide does meadow pea spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on meadow pea?

1-1.5 cm

### When does meadow pea bloom?

Late spring to late summer

### Is meadow pea edible?

Yes

### Is meadow pea toxic?

None

### What is meadow pea's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Weseruferpark Rablinghausen (Bremen)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/weseruferpark-rablinghausen-bremen) — Bremen, DE · Park

## 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*)

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Source: [Meadow Pea: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-pea)