Plant Library

Other Names:  Spring Pea, Spring Vetch

Description:

This charming perennial forms a low clump of bright green leaves producing a spring display of pretty rose-pink flowers; prefers a site that does not dry out and partial shade; a perfect garden accent or massed along borders

Ornamental Features

Spring Vetchling features showy racemes of rose pea-like flowers along the stems from early to late spring. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its oval compound leaves remain light green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Spring Vetchling is an herbaceous perennial with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Spring Vetchling is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Spring Vetchling will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 15 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Spring Vetchling is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.