Everlasting Pea is a brightly coloured and robust perennial vine in the pea family. Everlasting Pea is native to Europe but has been introduced on other continents around the world. Everlasting Pea is often found along roadsides and ditches in sprawling masses. The genus name lathyrus is the Latin name for 'pea'; and the species name latifolius means 'broad-leaved' in reference to the type of leaves found on the plant. Unlike the related annual sweet pea, everlasting pea, with which it may be confused, has no scent. While grown as a garden plant it may be pervasive and difficult to remove. Because of this, this species is often considered to be a weed despite its attractive appearance.
Everlasting Pea has been used for ground stabilization along roadways and ditches to prevent soil erosion.
Within the realm of rational and holistic medicine, there are no known uses for everlasting pea.
Please note that MIROFOSS does not suggest in any way that plants should be used in place of proper medical and psychological care. This information is provided here as a reference only.
Some reports suggest the seeds are edible if cooked, however these should be treated with extreme caution due to the TOXICITIY of the plant.
Please note that MIROFOSS can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the consumption of plant species which are found in the wild. This information is provided here as a reference only.
Everlasting Pea can grow in full sun or partial sun areas, along roadsides, ditches, and disturbed soil. Everlasting Pea is suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. Everlasting Pea can correct nitrogen issues within the soil. Everlasting Pea appears to be resistant to deer.
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Everlasting Pea is a perennial vine which can grow up to 180cm in length by means of twining tendrils, but in open areas sprawls along the ground. Everlasting pea spreads slowly and the foliage becomes sparse and yellowish by the end of the growing season. The stems of everlasting pea are winged and hairless with alternating compound leaves consisting of a single pair of leaflets and a winged petiole approximately 5cm long. The leaflets are narrowly ovate or oblong-ovate, smooth along the margins, hairless and up to 75mm long and 25mm across. There is a branched tendrils between the leaflets. Racemes of four to eleven flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves. The flowers, which are unscented, are about 25mm across with a typical structure similar to most species in the pea family, with an upper standard and lower keel, enclosed by lateral petals. There are five petals, which are purplish pink, fading with age. There is a green calyx with five teeth, often unequal. The blooming period lasts about two months during the summer and early autumn. At the end of the blooming season, the flowers are replaced by hairless flattened seedpods, about 5cm long and 1cm wide, with several seeds inside. The seedpod, which is initially green, gradually turns brown, and will split open into curled segments, flinging out the seeds. The seeds are dark and oblong to reniform in shape. Bumblebees will pollinate the flowers and butterflies will visit the flowers for their nectar, but do not pollinate. Certain breeds of caterpillars feed on the leaves. However, the seeds are toxic and usually not consumed. Lathyrus latifolius can reproduce vegetatively from its taproot and rhizomes, or by reseeding.
| Plant Height | 180cm |  |
| Habitat | Cultivated areas, Disturbed Soil, Roadsides, Ditches | |
| Leaves | Ovate | |
| Leaf Margin | Entire | |
| Leaf Venation | Longitudinal | |
| Stems | Smooth stems | |
| Flowering Season | June to September | |
| Flower Type | Bilaterally Symmetrical | |
| Flower Colour | Pink | |
| Pollination | Bees | |
| Flower Gender | Flowers are hermaphrodite and the plants are self-fertile | |
| Fruit | Small seeds in a swollen capsule | |
| USDA Zone | 3A (-37°C to -40°C) cold weather limit |
The following health hazards should be noted when handling or choosing a location to plant everlasting pea:
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TOXIC The seeds of everlasting pea contain a toxic amino acid that can cause a severe disease of the nervous system known as 'lathyrism' if they are eaten in large amounts. |
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-Click here- or on the thumbnail image to see an artist rendering, from The United States Department of Agriculture, of everlasting pea. (This image will open in a new browser tab) |
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-Click here- or on the thumbnail image to see a magnified view, from The United States Department of Agriculture, of the seeds created by everlasting pea for propagation. (This image will open in a new browser tab) |
Everlasting Pea can be referenced in certain current and historical texts under the following four names:
Everlasting Pea can be translated into the following select languages:
| Arabic | البازلاء الأبدية | Bulgarian | вечен грах | Chinese (Sim) | 永恒的豌豆 |
| Croatian | vječni grašak | Czech | věčný hrášek | Danish | evig ærte |
| Dutch | eeuwige erwt | Esperanto | eterna pizo | Estonian | igavene hernes |
| Finnish | ikuinen herne | French | eterna pizo | German | ewige Erbse |
| Greek | αιώνιο μπιζέλι | Hebrew | אפונה נצחית | Hungarian | örök borsó |
| Italian | pisello eterno | Japanese | 永遠のエンドウ豆 | Korean | 영원한 완두콩 |
| Punjabi | ਸਦੀਵੀ ਮਟਰ | Lithuanian | amžinas žirniai | Norwegian | evig ert |
| Persian | نخود ابدی | Polish | wieczny groch | Portuguese | ervilha eterna |
| Romanian | mazăre veșnică | Russian | вечный горох | Slovak | večný hrášok |
| Spanish | mazăre veșnică | Swedish | evig ärta | Tagalog | walang hanggang gisantes |
| Turkish | sonsuz bezelye | Ukrainian | вічний горох | Vietnamese | hạt đậu vĩnh cửu |
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The MIROFOSS database offers free printable garden tags for personal and non-profit use. These tags can be used to properly identify plant samples in a garden. Click on the tags shown on the the screen or -click here- to download a full size jpeg image for an everlasting pea identification tag; which can be printed on paper or used with a plastic laser printer. |
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What's this? What can I do with it? |
| Description | Dickinson, T.; Metsger, D.; Bull, J.; & Dickinson, R. (2004) ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto:McClelland and Stewart Ltd. |
| Description | C. Brickell, Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, 1996, Royal Horticultural Society, London, ISBN 0-7513-0436-0. |
| Edibility | F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951 |
| Image Rendering | USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. |
| Environment | National Audubon Society. Field Guide To Wildflowers (Eastern Region): Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-40232-2 |
| Physical Identification | National Audubon Society. Field Guide To Wildflowers (Eastern Region): Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-40232-2 |
| March 10, 2019 | The last time this page was updated |
| ©2021 MIROFOSS™ Foundation | |
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