Beach Pea
Lathyrus japonicus Willd. - Pea family
Size
Mature Height: Up to around 18 inches
Planting Distance: 20 inches
Plant Type: Vine, Forb/herb
Root Depth: 16 inches
Growth Form: Single Crown
Growth Rate: Moderate
Features
Flower Color: Purple
Conspicuous Flowers: Yes
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Seasonal Growth: Spring and Summer
Evergreen: No
Fall Colors: No
Conditions
Shade Tolerance: Intermediate
Clay Soil Tolerance: No
Sandy Soil Tolerance: Yes
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Flood Tolerance: None
Fire Tolerance: High
Salt Tolerance: Medium
Ecosystem Interactions
Pollinators: Bombus; Beetles, Wasps, Flies; Butterflies; Larval Host (Butterfly); Larval Host (Moth)
Larval Species depending on Beach Pea: Actebia fennica, Ancylis maritima, Ancylis metamelana, Cydia nigricana, Glaucopsyche lygdamus, Glaucopsyche lygdamus mildredi, Melanchra picta, Pima albiplagiatella, Pima boisduvaliella
Native Range
- USA: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode I., Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
- CAN: Newfoundland, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Nunavut, Ontario, Québec
State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.