This is the other pea we have, Lathyrus aureus.  Not as specatacular as the earlier and less common L. vernus ‘Albo-roseus’, which is over now. L. aureus is related, its synonym being L. vernus var. aurantiacus which was the name with which it came to us (from Iain Christie’s nursery at Kirriemuir).   I like this plant just as much, because its flower colour is quite subtle,a sort of light brown that escapes being orange and is yet not gold nor yellow .  It is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial, so completely different from a sweet pea in every way.  It does not climb, but reaches about 2 feet in height, and individual plants have a spread of only about a foot.  It produces quantities of seeds which grow easily, but although it can be divided in early spring it is said to resent this a bit. It is fully hardy, and so far has not been affected by any of the diseases to which the RHS says it is prone,not even powdery mildew.

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