Perennial sweet pea, Pink perennial pea, Everlasting pea, Broad-leaved everlasting pea
Lathyrus latifolius

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A climber which grows 1.5-3 m high. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a deep tough root system. The stems are winged. The leaves are blue-green. There are 2 leaflets. They are opposite and sword shaped. They are 3-10 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. They have a small sharp tip at the end. The leaf stalk has wings. There is a tendril at the end of the leaf stalk. It is usually branched. The flowers are pink and in clusters. There are 3-14 flowers in a group. The stalk is 3-15 cm long. The petals are magenta colour. The pods are narrowly oblong. They are 5-10 cm long and 0.6-1 cm wide. There are 10-15 seeds. The pods are smooth and light brown. The seeds are rough and with a net like pattern. They are 6 mm long.

There are about 150 Lathyrus species. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It the tropics it is grown at high altitudes. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, China, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Greece, Hawaii, Indonesia, Ireland, Lord Howe Island, Mediterranean, North Africa, North America, Portugal, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America,Spain, Tasmania, Uruguay

How it is used for food

The pods and shoots are boiled as a vegetable. The seeds are roasted.

It is mostly eaten in Asia.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, seedspod

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or rhizomes.

Its other names

Local names

Dugolisni grahor, Latirus, širokolistni grahor

Synonyms

Lathyrus sylvestris;