Lathyrus latifolius, the perennial peavine, perennial pea, broad-leaved everlasting-pea, or just everlasting pea, is a robust, sprawling perennial in the Pea Family Fabaceae. It is native to Europe but is present on other continents.
Perennial sweet pea aka Lathyrus latifolius is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial. The genus name comes from the Greek word for pulse or pea Lathyrus. Its specific species latifolius means “broad-leaved.” Everlasting pea climber has a trailing and climbing habit and grows to a height of 6′ to 9′ feet with a spread of 3′ to 6′ feet. When left to its own devices with nothing to climb, the plant will ramble as far as it can grow as a groundcover approximately 4″ to 8″ inches high. When it has support, it will climb to a height of 6′ to 9′ feet. The perennial sweet pea blooms from June through late September producing great masses of scentless blossoms. Its flowers are impressively showy in shades of white, pinkish purple and rose.