LATHYRUS

Lacking the scent of the annuals these decorative climbers might not be everlasting but they are perennial.

Genus of 150 species of annuals and herbaceous or evergreen perennials from sunny, sandy or shingle banks, grassy slopes, wasteland or open woodland in northern temperate regions, northern and eastern Africa and temperate South America.

UK natives of these legumes include L. aphaca, yellow vetchling, an annual found on dry gravel, sand and chalk, L. japonicus, sea pea, rare except on the Sussex coast, L. montanus, bitter vetch, quite common on hedgebanks and in woods, L. palustris, marsh pea of fens, L. pratensis, meadow vetchling, commonly found in hedgerows, roadsides and grassy places and L. sylvestris, narrow-leaved everlasting pea, rather rare in woods and hedges, usually near habitation.