Flower profile
Broad-leaved sweet pea
Lathyrus latifolius
Broad-leaved sweet pea (Lathyrus latifolius) is a vine in the Fabaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.
Broad-leaved sweet pea is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Michigan, Oregon, Washington
Quick look
Lathyrus latifolius, the perennial peavine, perennial pea, broad-leaved everlasting-pea, or just everlasting pea, is a robust, sprawling herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae. It is native to Europe but is present on other continents, such as North America and Australia, where it is most often seen along roadsides.
- It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 47 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Oregon, Washington and Michigan. NatureServe
- In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
- In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 3,163 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #48 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,866 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #63 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,009 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #81 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Introduced | June–August | 3,163 |
| Washington | Introduced | June–September | 2,866 |
| Michigan | Introduced | June–September | 2,009 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Oregon
- Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
- Washington
- No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Washington.
- Michigan
- Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. R 299.1028
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: seeds. Symptoms they list: “TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. "Lathyrism": paralysis, slow and weak pulse, shallow breathing, and convulsions, tremors, seizures and possibly death.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Sweet Pea” (Lathyrus latifolius) lists it as toxic to horses, but non-toxic to dogs and cats. Signs include: Weakness, lethargy, pacing, head pressing, tremors, seizures and possibly… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records broad-leaved sweet pea in 47 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco.
Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Island, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Whitman.
Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clinton, Emmet, Genesee, Houghton, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Leelanau, Livingston, Mackinac, Marquette, Monroe, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Otsego, Van Buren, Washtenaw.
Growing conditions
USDA PLANTS gives Broad-leaved sweet pea a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.8 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -38 °F.
- Shade tolerance
- High
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Moisture use
- Low
- Soil textures it is adapted to
- coarse, medium
- Soil pH range
- 5.8 to 7.5
- Minimum temperature tolerated
- -38 °F
- Frost-free days needed (minimum)
- 140
- Annual precipitation range
- 26 to 60 inches
- Minimum root depth
- 12 inches
- Salinity tolerance
- None
- Fertility requirement
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Long
- Active growth period
- Spring and Summer
- Fruit or seed
- Brown · Summer to Summer
- Can be propagated by
- seed
- Commercial availability
- Routinely Available
From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for LALA4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 589 counties across 42 states; the most are in Virginia (84), North Carolina (51), Pennsylvania (41).
Other Lathyrus on Bloomipedia (2): Pacific pea, Seaside pea.
More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover.
More Oregon flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile LALA4.
- iNaturalist, Lathyrus latifolius: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Lathyrus latifolius (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
- Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
- Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
- Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
- Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Lathyrus latifolius (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Eric Johnson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.