Punchy pink

This European import, everlasting pea, Lathyrus latifolius, is now wide spread in my part of the world (Great Lakes region), as well as other places in the USA, more commonly as an escape or a roadside planting than as a garden ornament. This vivid fuchsia pink is the color I see most often in the wild, though the plant does come in less eye-catching variations of pink and lavender.

Very pretty and, as you say, eye catching! A perfect banner.

Another banner that makes me look up plant info! Very well done, and very beautiful! When I first saw the banner, I thought orchids? They do resemble moth orchids. How long do they bloom for in summer in your zone?

Beautiful banner Elizabeth!

Beautiful banner. Nice closeup, Elizabeth.
Is it a vine or a bush? Are they fragrant?

Thoroughly enjoyed your Banner! Such rich colour you have captured, Elizabeth.
At my old place, the perennial Sweet Pea would grow rampantly, and I loved it, but now one has come into my little city garden, and I'm trying to get rid of it. Seeing your Banner makes me think I should just give it room and enjoy all those blossoms. Too bad they are not fragrant, like the annual Sweet Peas.

yummy pimk
+1

For those not familiar with the plant, here's my source image.



I wish I had a better answer for the length of the blooming season, as @Murky asked. At a guess, in any one location, maybe a couple of weeks. Maybe more.

I found a pretty good description of it from a grower's/gardener's perspective here:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/pl...

There's basic info on it in the NGA database page for it, Perennial Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius), but flashing alert about one piece of info there. The plant spread is NOT 3-6 inches. Because this is a vine-like perennial (to answer @EscondidoCal's question), its 'spread' can be anywhere from the width of the vine, if it is climbing, to the length of the vine, if it is spread out on the ground. I've read that vines can reach 10 feet in length, but I believe 6-8 feet is more common. Since I see it mostly as a ground cover, it's hard to tell where one plant ends and another begins.

Both the banner and full picture are very pretty, Elizabeth! Great job.

That really is beautiful. I've got a row of perennials along a 50'-60' fence that I've been considering planting something low growing in front of the entire border length. I want to be sure I pick out something really good though, since I'll have to remove at least another 1' of grass from that border. If I'm going kill myself doing it, I want it to be good! These might work, if they're not invasive and won't be climbing all over the existing plants, if I can keep them pinned down to the soil for the length of their vines.

Very pretty! I would be paranoid about introducing it into my yard on purpose though.

Ditto @Zoia, @Murky. Think acres of highway shoulders as a more suitable location for everlasting pea as a ground cover. Someplace where you keep it under control with a mower. Just saying...

The sweet peas make a delicate petite bouquet. I have them growing against a wall with a grid, keeping them in control. A lovely banner to bring these flowers to our attention.

Ok, it's off the list of possibilities to border my perennials. Last thing I want to introduce is a plant that will make endless work for me. I've already got a trumpet vine on the opposite fence that I do battle with yearly.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the thread for this banner. Some of my own favorite banners submitted by others are the ones that make me think, and explore, and learn about unfamiliar plants, so I'm glad some of you got the same experience from seeing this submission about everlasting peas. When I selected it, I guess I just assumed most people would know about it, because I had been acquainted with it since my childhood. So I learned something, too. I live is my own knowledge bubble, which doesn't overlap with everyone else's. I'll try to remember that.

And to all of you for whom the plant was already known, thanks for just expressing appreciation of its charms and weighing in with your own experiences growing it. Though I personally wouldn't plant it, I do enjoy seeing its blooms.

I don't think I've ever seen it, either, or at least didn't know what it was. Very pretty banner and interesting information!