LATHYRUS VERNUS (SPRING PEA) 'RAINBOW'

A new member of my garden's family of plants is Lathyrus 'Rainbow'.  It's a delightful, herbaceous plant and I'm only sorry that I found it when the flowers were ageing and pods were forming.  The pods are lovely, a maroonish colour, but the garden centre allowing them to develop has been at the expense of more flowers being produced.  So, since taking the photograph, I have cut them off.  If more flowers are produced at this late stage, I hope to provide a better photo.

Lathyrus vernus (spring pea) 'Rainbow'.

What I love, apart from the pretty flowers, is the straggly, delicate appearance of a plant which is relatively compact.  The label has this to say:




Lathyrus vernus 'Rainbow' is an attractive, clump-forming, fully hardy plant with late spring flowers in shades of carmine-red, light pink, lilac, rose, and white.  It re-grows from ground level every year.  The flowers are good for cutting.  It achieves a height of 40cm (16") and a spread of 30cm (12in).  It is best grown in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. 




The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) website says that Lathyrus vernus 'Rainbow' can be grown in south, east, or west aspects in acid, neutral or alkaline soil that is clay, loam, chalk or sand. Hardiness level: H5.




It would seem, then, that it's not too fussy a plant.  Good.  I'm not convinced that the flowers are good for cutting as I get the impression that the stems are quite short.  However, the label says they are, so that remains to be seen.  What is true is that the flowers should be cut off regularly, same as the case of the climbing sweet pea, to encourage more flowers to be produced.