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Close-up of a sweet pea plant, Lathyrus odoratus, showing bright pink-purple flowers and slender green leaves against a blurred background. Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
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Close-up of a sweet pea plant, Lathyrus odoratus, showing bright pink-purple flowers and slender green leaves against a blurred background.
Sweet pea Cluster of fragrant sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) flowers.

Sweet pea

plant
Also known as: Lathyrus odoratus
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Sweet pea, (Lathyrus odoratus), annual plant of the pea family (Fabaceae), widely cultivated for its beautiful, fragrant flowers. Hundreds of varieties of sweet pea have been developed and are grown as garden ornamentals or are grown commercially for the floral industry. The plant is sometimes confused with the closely related everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius), a perennial species.

The vinelike stem is 1.2–1.8 metres (4–6 feet) long and bears alternate compound leaves with two oval leaflets and a terminal tendril. The flowers, commonly white, pink, red, violet, or purple and up to 5 cm (2 inches) across, are borne singly or in clusters of two to four. The fruit is a hairy pod about 5 cm long; the seeds are not considered edible.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.