Sweet Pea plant profile
Lathyrus odoratus
An annual flower for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Sweet Pea
Sweet pea is a cool-season annual, so sow it very early: UMN says as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, and Illinois gives a mid-March to mid-April window. Early sowing lets it bloom before summer heat shuts it down.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Sweet Pea in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Lifecycle
- Annual
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: heat stops bloom, needs trellis support.
Next steps
Continue with Sweet Pea
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Fragrant Flowers for your Cutting Garden
University of Minnesota Extension. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-13.
- Sweet Pea
University of Illinois Extension. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-13.