Sweet Pea Bush – Grow This Fragrant Flowering Shrub

Hey guys it’s JV Charles again. You know I’ve got a couple ย sweet pea bushes and they areย truly mesmerizing. They are bright and awesome ,thereย fragrant flowers look like small purple jewels. This flowering legume makes any garden more beautiful. I love its old-timey look, which has been popular for years.

But sweet pea bushes are more than just pretty. Their flowers can be eaten. They’re great on salads and desserts. Plus, they bring lots of bees and butterflies to your yard. Their smell in the spring is heavenly.

Yet, sweet pea bushes (lathyrus odoratus) are more than flowers. They can grow in many places. Even the ones from South Africa do well in dry areas or with little rain. Thanks to that, they fit in lots of gardens. The ‘Petite Butterflies’ one is great for small gardens, only 3 to 4 feet tall1.

What is a Sweet Pea Bush?

The sweet pea bush is a type of flowering shrub that stays green all year. It has flowers that look and smell like sweet peas we know but is actually from a different plant family.2

Unrelated to Sweet Pea Garden Flowers

The sweet pea bush is named differently from the sweet peas we grow in gardens. Its flowers smell lovely just like the annual sweet pea, but they are from different plant families.3 The annual sweet pea is actually a climbing vine, while the sweet pea bush is a shrub from South Africa.2

Attracts Bees, Butterflies, and Birds

I love having a sweet pea bush in my wildlife garden> because it attracts many bees, butterflies, and birds. Bees and butterflies are drawn to its shiny flowers.2 Also, the bush’s thick leaves are a great place for songbirds to nest.2

Native Habitat and Hardiness Zones

This bush comes from South Africa and likes warm places. It can grow in places without frost and in zones 9 and 10 for cold weather plants.3 It doesn’t get very big, only 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. This makes it perfect for growing along with other plants or in pots in places that stay warm.2

Sweet Pea Bush Care and Maintenance

The sweet pea bush is a lovely flowering shrub that’s easy to care for.3 It grows well in sun or partial shade. Flowers are out from summer to fall. In warm places without frost, they bloom even longer.3

Minimal Water Requirements

Sweet pea bushes don’t need much water, which is great. They can go with little water but look better when watered often.3 If in a pot, remember to water more than if in the ground.