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Lathyrus Vernus

grass pea

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£6.99

Size:

9cm pot

Code: 35764

Availability: 12 item(s)

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At a Glance

Size: 9cm pot
Mature Height (?):

What does this mean?

Mature Height

You can expect the height to reach somewhere within this estimate. It is given as a guide but can vary dependant on several factors such as soil quality and position.

For Conifers and Trees this may be the height in 10-20 years, eventually the plant may exceed this height.

50cm
Mature Spread (?):

What does this mean?

Mature Spread

You can expect the plant to spread somewhere within this range estimate. It is given as a guide but can vary dependant on several factors such as soil quality and position.

For Conifers and Trees this may be the spread in 10-20 years, eventually the plant may exceed this.

50cm
Flower Colour (?):

What does this mean?

Flower Colour

Flowers come in a vast variety of colours from pure white to almost black. Colour can be affected by a number of factors including environment and diet. Use the photographs as a guide and expect variations.

Pink, Purple
Flowering Time (?):

What does this mean?

Flowering Time

A plants development is synchronised with the changing seasons and flowering is one of several changes that occur at the appropriate time of year dependent on the specific plant. While our meteorological seasons are defined by specific dates; there can be two or the weeks difference in the start and end of the horticultural 'season' between the north and south of the UK.

Spring
Foliage (?):

What does this mean?

Evergreen

Plants that have leaves all year round are classified as evergreen. They can however lose leaves sporadically throughout the year.

Deciduous

Deciduous plants drop their leaves in autumn, look bare in winter and put out new leaves again in spring. Some plants such a Beech retain their dead leaves until the new spring growth.

Semi-evergreen

There are exceptions, some plant drop their leaves in cold winters but keep them if it is mild. These are classified as Semi-evergreen.

Deciduous
Fragrant (?):

What does this mean?
Fragrant
For plants that are fragrant the level of fragrance may vary, results may improve by planting in larger blocks. The fragrance may come from flowers or foliage.

No
Growth Rate (?):

What does this mean?

Growth rate of a plant will determine how fast the plant reaches it ultimate height and is affected by four main factors: temperature, nutrients, light, and water.

Fast
Hardiness (?):

What does this mean?

Fully Hardy

Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (to -15)

Half Hardy

Hardy throughout most of the UK (to -10)

Frost Hardy

Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of UK (to -5)

Fully Hardy
Position (?):

What does this mean?

Full Sun

Six or more full hours of direct sunlight but don't forget to water.

Partial Shade

Two or three hours either in early morning or late evening sun. Very limited exposure to midday sun.

Dense Shade

Usually no more than two hours direct sunlight. Usually under dense trees, shurbs or in shade cast by buildings/fences etc.

Full sun
Soil Moisture (?):

What does this mean?

Well Drained

Well-drained soil allows water to percolate through reasonably quickly without pooling. Well drained soil can often be dry and lack nutrients.

Poorly Drained

Poorly Drained soil is usually saturated periodically during the growing season and remains wet for several days at a time. Saturated soil can deprive roots of oxygen.

Moist Well Drained

A moist well drained soil is the best of both worlds by combining high permeability with the ability to retain moisture. Adding well rotted organic matter to dry or wet soil will help improve both these characteristics.

Moist Well-drained
Soil PH (?):

What does this mean?

Acid

Soil with a pH between 1 and 7 is classed as acid, ericaceous plants such as Rhododendrons need acid soil.

Neutral

A neutral pH which is around 7, will be suitable for most plants. Clay soils tend to be neutral.

Alkaline

Soil with a pH between 7 and 14 are refereed to as Alkaline. Chalky soil is usually Alkaline.

Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type (?):

What does this mean?

Chalk

Chalky or lime-rich soils may be light or heavy, largely made up of calcium carbonate and are very alkaline.

Clay

Clay soils are potentially fertile and hold a high proportion of water. They drain slowly and take longer to warm up in spring.

Loam

Loam soils are s mixture of clay, sand and silt that avoid the extremes of clay or sandy soils. Fertile, well-drained and easily worked.

Sand

Sandy soils have a low clay content, drain quickly, easy to cultivate and work. They can dry out quickly and are low in plant nutrients. Often very acidic.

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Lathyrus Vernus

Lathyrus vernus, commonly known as spring vetchling, is a delightful and reliable perennial that brings an early burst of colour to shady borders and woodland gardens. Unlike its climbing sweet pea relatives, this bushy, clump-forming plant stands upright without support and produces masses of small, pea-like flowers in shades of violet and magenta just as the garden begins to wake up in spring.

Key Features

Botanical name: Lathyrus vernus
Common name: Spring vetchling
Plant type: Hardy herbaceous perennial
Height: 50cm (1.6ft)
Spread: 50cm (1.6ft)
Flowers: Bright violet-pink, pea-shaped flowering in April and May
Compact, upright habit – no need for staking or support
Attractive mid-green foliage that remains tidy through summer
Excellent for partial shade and woodland-style planting
Hardy: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -15 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H6)

Growth & Habit

Lathyrus vernus is a low-growing, clump-forming perennial that emerges early in the year, often flowering from mid-spring before many other plants are in full leaf. Its fresh green foliage and vibrant flowers make it perfect for brightening shaded corners. Unlike climbing sweet peas, it has a neat, bushy habit and remains in place without wandering or needing tying in.

Planting Advice

Position: Prefers partial shade, making it ideal for woodland edges, north-facing borders, or under deciduous trees. It will tolerate some sun if the soil remains moist.
Soil: Grows well in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Enrich soil with garden compost or leaf mould before planting.
Potted: grown in pots can be planted at any time of the year providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged
Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as it was in the pot, with the crown level with the soil surface.
Spacing: Space plants 30–45 cm apart to allow for natural clump development.

Best planted in autumn or early spring to allow for strong root establishment.

Care & Maintenance

Lathyrus vernus is an easy-care plant requiring very little attention once established. Water during prolonged dry periods in spring and early summer, particularly in its first season.

An annual mulch of well-rotted organic matter in late winter or early spring helps to retain soil moisture and improve plant health.

Pruning Advice

Deadhead regularly then cut stems down to the ground in autumn

Uses in the Garden

Ideal for woodland gardens and shady borders
Great for underplanting shrubs or trees
Adds early-season colour to mixed perennial beds
Pairs well with other spring flowers such as brunnera, hellebores, pulmonaria, and ferns
Excellent in naturalistic or informal planting schemes

If you're looking for a low-maintenance, non-invasive spring-flowering perennial for a shaded or woodland-style area, Lathyrus vernus is a top choice. With its rich colouring, neat form, and early blooms, it adds life and interest to the garden when little else is flowering — and it does so reliably year after year.

Perennial Notes
Perennial Guide & Care
Companions
Reviews

Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries

At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.

As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.

From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.

Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.

Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.

Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.

As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.

It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.

Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.

Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.

If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.

By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.