Does it need a trellis?

It prefers to scramble over other plants but can use a small support.

It can spread aggressively in ideal conditions via rhizomes.

Plant guide

Meadow vetchling.

Lathyrus pratensis

Pronounced LAY-thur-us pra-TEN-sis

Also known as Meadow Vetchling, Meadow pea, Yellow Vetchling

The meadow vetchling is a charming perennial legume that spreads through creeping rhizomes. It produces lovely clusters of bright yellow flowers that really stand out in grassy meadows. You will often find it climbing over other plants using its specialized tendrils.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 1 meter
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to late summer

Care

Give this plant plenty of sunshine and well draining soil to keep it happy. Watch for wilting during dry spells, as it prefers consistent moisture. It can be quite vigorous, so keep an eye on it if you do not want it to spread too far.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Feeding: A light application of balanced fertilizer in spring is plenty.
Pruning: Cut back dead foliage in late autumn or early spring.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes rootbound in its container.
Soil: Loamy or clay soils
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Temperature: -25 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth
Soil drying out too quickly

Safety

People: The plant is considered mildly toxic if ingested in quantity.
Pets: The seeds and pods contain compounds that can be harmful to cats and dogs if eaten in quantity, as with the related sweet pea. Keep pets from chewing the seed pods.
Children: Keep children away from the seeds as they are toxic if swallowed.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild seasonal allergies for some people.
Edibility: The seeds of many Lathyrus species contain toxins that can cause lathyrism if consumed in large quantities.

How to identify it

Bright yellow pea shaped flowers
Pairs of lance shaped leaflets
Branched tendrils at leaf tips
Angular unwinged stems with large arrow shaped stipules
Forms dense mats in meadows

Height: 0.3 to 1m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, black, Late summer

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
RustUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your meadow vetchling from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The foliage will die back naturally in winter. Simply clear away the dead stems in early spring to make room for new growth.
In containers: It is not well suited for containers due to its spreading root system.

Seed

1. Scarify the hard seed coat.
2. Soak seeds in water for 24 hours.
3. Sow in pots in early spring.

Plant alongside tall grasses to provide natural support for its climbing habit.

Grows well with

Common Knapweed · They share similar meadow habitats and bloom times.
Oxeye Daisy · Provides a nice color contrast to the yellow flowers.

Similar species

Meadow Vetchling · This is the same species.

Science

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Lathyrus
Order: Fabales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and Western Asia.
Conservation: This species is common and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in meadows and hedgerows by climbing over taller grasses and shrubs.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, wildflower meadow, pollinator garden

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need a trellis?: It prefers to scramble over other plants but can use a small support.
Is it invasive?: It can spread aggressively in ideal conditions via rhizomes.

Where the name comes from

Lathyrus is the ancient Greek name for a pea, while pratensis means of the meadow.

Good to know

It is a member of the pea family.
The plant is often found in damp grasslands and hedgerows.
It fixes nitrogen in the soil, benefiting neighboring plants.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your meadow vetchling growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.