Seaside Pea
Lathyrus japonicus
Also listed as Orobus japonicus
Also known as Beach Pea, Sea Pea, Beach Vetchling
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing, spreading groundcover with purple-pink pea-like flowers, native to coastal areas and well-suited for stabilizing sandy soils. Hardy and salt-tolerant, it thrives in full sun with minimal maintenance.
Why grow it
Lathyrus japonicus offers reliable soil stabilization on sandy or gravelly coastal sites where many ornamentals struggle, making it a practical choice for erosion control alongside native species. Compared to other salt-tolerant groundcovers, it establishes relatively quickly and requires minimal inputs once established. Its nitrogen-fixing capacity (typical of legumes) can modestly improve depleted sandy soils over time.
Watch out for
This plant spreads vigorously and may outcompete slower-growing neighbors in confined spaces, so plan spacing carefully or use root barriers if cohabiting with delicate species. In very rich soils it can become rank and flop; it performs best on lean, well-draining sites. Flowering and seed production are generally more abundant with consistent moisture during the growing season.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Japan and coastal East Asia
Native to: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing, spreading groundcover with purple-pink pea-like flowers, native to coastal areas and well-suited for stabilizing sandy soils. Hardy and salt-tolerant, it thrives in full sun with minimal maintenance.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Seaside Pea grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Lathyrus japonicus offers reliable soil stabilization on sandy or gravelly coastal sites where many ornamentals struggle, making it a practical choice for erosion control alongside native species. Compared to other salt-tolerant groundcovers, it establishes relatively quickly and requires minimal inputs once established. Its nitrogen-fixing capacity (typical of legumes) can modestly improve depleted sandy soils over time.
Watch out for
This plant spreads vigorously and may outcompete slower-growing neighbors in confined spaces, so plan spacing carefully or use root barriers if cohabiting with delicate species. In very rich soils it can become rank and flop; it performs best on lean, well-draining sites. Flowering and seed production are generally more abundant with consistent moisture during the growing season.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Japan and coastal East Asia
Native to: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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