Plant of the week

LATHYRUS VERNUS (SPRING VETCHLING)

SPRING perennials are scarcer than those for summer and autumn, so here’s one to be treasured. Spring vetchling, or lathyrus vernus, is related to climbing sweet peas and shares much of their beauty. Unlike them, this develops as a long-lived, clump-forming perennial. The slender 30cm stems need no support and carry clusters of small magenta pea flowers. Alboroseus is a superb pink form and flowers of Cyaneus are mid-blue. Spring vetchling prefers full sun, but tolerates dappled shade. Free-draining soil is best. The plants are long-lived but resent disturbance. Mature clumps can be divided — but only with moderate success. Propagation is more successful from seed. Unlike mature plants, seedlings are easy to transplant and quick to establish.