Pisum spp.

garden pea

Overview

Pisum spp. is a small genus of annual climbing legumes in the pea family (Fabaceae), grown worldwide as Pisum sativum, the garden pea. Plants form slender, hollow, scrambling stems 2-6 ft (0.6-1.8 m) long that climb by branched tendrils at the leaf tips. The blue-green pinnate leaves carry one to three pairs of oval leaflets and large leafy stipules at the base. White, or sometimes pink to purple, butterfly-shaped flowers open in spring, each developing into a green pod 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long holding several round seeds. Types include shelling peas, eaten as seeds; snap and snow peas, eaten pod and all; and dried field peas. As a legume, the pea fixes nitrogen and enriches the soil. It is a cool-season crop that grows poorly in summer heat, when flowering and pod set drop off and mildew takes hold.

Native Range

Pisum spp. is native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia, with the cultivated pea derived from wild forms in the Near East. It was among the earliest crops domesticated in the Fertile Crescent and has been grown for thousands of years across Europe and Asia.

Suggested Uses

Pisum spp. is grown as a spring vegetable in beds, rows, and containers, trained up trellises, netting, or twiggy supports. Plants are spaced 2-3 in (5-8 cm) apart in double rows. Low bush types suit small beds and pots, while tall climbers screen and use vertical space in the kitchen garden.

How to Identify

Identify Pisum spp. by its blue-green compound leaves ending in branched climbing tendrils and its large leafy stipules clasping the stem. The butterfly-shaped white to purple flowers and the swelling green pods are typical of the pea family. Smooth round seeds mark shelling types, while wrinkled seeds belong to many sweeter garden cultivars.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 6'

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs in spring to early summer, generally April to June, with timing set by sowing date and climate. The white to purple flowers are mostly self-pollinating, so each opens and sets a pod with little insect help. Pods follow within a week or two and are picked young for the table.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White to pink or purple

Foliage Description

Blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Pisum spp. grows in full sun in moist, fertile, well-drained soil with a near-neutral pH of 6.0-7.5. Peas are a cool-season annual, direct-sown in early spring (or autumn in mild areas) as soon as the soil can be worked, across USDA zones 3-11 as a seasonal crop. The plants tolerate light frost but stall and mildew in heat above 80 F (27 C), so early sowing avoids the worst of summer. Most types climb and yield more on netting, brush, or a trellis that keeps pods off the ground. Nitrogen fixation means little extra feeding is needed, though even moisture during flowering and podding lifts the harvest. Powdery mildew, root rot, and pea weevil are the main problems.

Pruning

Pisum spp. is not pruned. The growing tips of tall types may be pinched to encourage branching, and tendrils are guided onto supports as the vines climb. Spent plants are pulled or cut at soil level after harvest, leaving the nitrogen-rich roots to break down in place.