# Sweet Pea (*Lathyrus odoratus*)

Sweet Peas are lovely flowers that smell wonderful! They come in many colors and are great for attracting bees and butterflies.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Sweet peas love to climb in sunny gardens.
- **Also known as:** Lathyrus odoratus

![Sweet Pea](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424643/objects/4919.jpg)

## Appearance

The Sweet Pea is a climbing plant featuring delicate, often ruffled flowers in a stunning array of colors, including white, pink, purple, and bi-colors. Its blooms are known for their exquisite fragrance and unique butterfly-like shape, making them visually distinct.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Gardeners sometimes 'deadhead' spent flowers to encourage even more blooms to appear.
- Its scientific name "odoratus" means "fragrant," a perfect description of its lovely scent!
- Sweet Peas were first brought to England from Sicily over 300 years ago!
- Though beautiful, eating Sweet Pea seeds can cause mild stomach upset in humans.

## Special abilities

- **Scent Siren:** Sweet Pea has a strong, sweet fragrance that helps it attract pollinators like bees from a distance.
- **Tendril Grappler:** Sweet Pea can grow long, coiling tendrils that help it grasp onto supports and climb upwards for sunlight.
- **Nitrogen Fixer:** Sweet Pea has root nodules containing bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, enriching the soil.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 150-250 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Gathers pollen from the uniquely shaped flowers.
- **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Fixes nitrogen in root nodules, benefiting the plant.

## Traits

- [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
- [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.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [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

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Sweet Pea?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Sweet Pea?

150-250 cm

### How wide does Sweet Pea spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Sweet Pea?

2-4 cm

### When does Sweet Pea bloom?

Spring to Summer

### Is Sweet Pea edible?

No

### Is Sweet Pea toxic?

Mild

### What is Sweet Pea's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [San Juan Bautista State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-juan-bautista-state-historic-park) — California, US · State 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: [Sweet Pea: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sweet-pea)