Plant Details

Lathyrus odoratus

Sweet Pea, Wild Pea,Vetchling

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Common names

31 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Sweet Pea[1]
  • sweetpea[1]
  • Vetchling
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Wild Pea
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Pronkerwt[1]
  • Welriekende lathyrus
French
  • Gesse odorante[1]
  • Pois de senteur[1]
Arabic
  • بازلاء حلوة[1]
  • بسلة الزهور[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • hrachor vonný[1]
Estonian
  • lõhnav lillhernes[1]
Finnish
  • tuoksunätkelmä[1]
German
  • Duft-Wicke[1]
Greek
  • Μοσχομπίζελο[1]
Hebrew
  • אפונה ריחנית[1]
Hungarian
  • illatos lednek[1]
Italian
  • Cicerchia odorosa[1]
  • Pisello odoroso[1]
Japanese
  • ジャコウエンドウ[1]
  • スイートピー[1]
Norwegian
  • blomsterert[1]
Polish
  • Groszek pachnący[1]
Portuguese
  • Ervilha-de-Cheiro[1]
Russian
  • Душистый горошек[1]
Slovak
  • hrachor voňavý[1]
Spanish
  • Chícharo de flor[1]
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Чина запашна[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Lathyrus odoratus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Sweet pea — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Chícharo de flor — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • sweetpea — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Gesse odorante — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • hrachor vonný — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • lõhnav lillhernes — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • blomsterert — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Pois de Senteur — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • luktärt — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • tuoksunätkelmä — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • بازلاء حلوة — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • بسلة الزهور — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • ジャコウエンドウ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Душистый горошек — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • 香豌豆 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • 香豌豆 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Ervilha-de-Cheiro — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Pisello odoroso — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Cicerchia odorosa — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Pronkerwt — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • スイートピー — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Μοσχομπίζελο — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Чина запашна — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Duft-Wicke — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • Groszek pachnący — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • illatos lednek — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • אפונה ריחנית — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.
  • hrachor voňavý — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 77641; Lathyrus odoratus.

General information

Scientific name: Lathyrus odoratus
Accepted name (Kew): Lathyrus odoratus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Lathyrus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sweet Pea, Wild Pea,Vetchling
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Climber
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.91–2.44 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Broad, Climbing, Creeping, Mounding, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Annual
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
None
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Essential oil

Description

Seeds: The seeds of this plant contain a lot of vitamin A. However, it is not clear whether the seeds are suitable for consumption.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 66935; name ID 2352057; Lathyrus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 63248; name ID 2351328; Lathyrus odoratus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Lathyrus odoratus

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 500365, ID 3SKYF: Lathyrus odoratus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Lathyrus odoratus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .