Broad-Leaved Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,198 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Broad-Leaved Sweet Pea: observations by month (U.S.)
About Broad-Leaved Sweet Pea
Lathyrus latifolius, the perennial peavine, perennial pea, broad-leaved everlasting-pea, or just everlasting pea, is a robust, sprawling perennial in the Pea Family Fabaceae. It is native to Europe but is present on other continents, such as North America and Australia, where it is most often seen along roadsides.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Broad-Leaved Sweet Pea by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 485 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Oregon | 347 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Washington | 234 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Ohio | 172 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New York | 132 | July | Jun–Aug |
| North Carolina | 91 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 90 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Michigan | 70 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Colorado | 67 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 62 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 47 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | 34 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Vermont | 33 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Utah | 32 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Virginia | 32 | June | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 32 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 27 | August | Jun–Sep |
| New Mexico | 24 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 24 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 20 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Idaho | 16 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Arkansas | 15 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 15 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Connecticut | 14 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 13 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 11 | June | May–Oct |
| Missouri | 10 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 9 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Delaware | 8 | July | May–Aug |
| Alabama | 6 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Broad-Leaved Sweet Pea?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to September.
Where is Broad-Leaved Sweet Pea most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.