Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus)

Beach Pea

(Lathyrus japonicus)

Dr. Alexey Yakovlev

CC BY-SA 2.0

Image By: Dr. Alexey Yakovlev

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Dr. Alexey Yakovlev | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ | Uploader: Dr. Alexey Yakovlev | Publisher: Flickr

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Lathyrus japonicus, commonly known as Beach Pea, is an evergreen perennial herb native to coastal sand dunes, shingle beaches, and the edges of salt marshes in North America, Europe, and East Asia. It typically grows to 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) in height with a sprawling habit. The stems are limp, often hairless, and lack wings. Its leaves are alternate, greyish-green, and somewhat succulent, with almost stalkless leaflets and large, wide stipules. From mid-to-late summer, Beach Pea produces inflorescences on long stems with five to twelve showy purple flowers, each 14 to 20 mm (0.6 to 0.8 in) long, which gradually turn bluer with age.

Beach Pea is valued for its ability to stabilize sandy soils with its deep root system, making it useful for erosion control in coastal areas. Its attractive flowers and tolerance of salt spray also make it a suitable choice for seaside gardens. While it thrives in full sun, it can also tolerate partial shade and requires a soil with good drainage. Beach Pea is relatively low-maintenance but can be susceptible to fungal diseases in overly moist conditions. It is not known to be invasive and does not typically present problems with aggressive roots or invasiveness when grown outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Vine
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Purple
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Semi-deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium, High
Drainage: Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Coastal sand dunes, shingle beaches, and the edges of salt marshes in North America, Europe, and East Asia

Other Names

Common Names: Sea Pea , Beach-Pea , Sea-Pea , Circumpolar Pea , Beach Peavine , Sea Vetchling , Seaside Pea , Strand-Platterbse , Strandplatterbse , Merinätkelmä

Scientific Names: Lathyrus japonicus , Lathyrus japonicus subsp. japonicus , Lathyrus maritimus var. aleuticus , Lathyrus japonicus var. typicus , Lathyrus japonicus f. japonicus , Lathyrus pisiformis , Lathyrus japonicus subsp. pubescens , Lathyrus japonicus var. pilosiusculus , Orobus japonicus , Pisum maritinum var. glabrum , Pisum pubescens

GBIF Accepted Name: Lathyrus japonicus Willd.