Height: 24 inches
Spread: 3 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 8a
Description:
This Mexican native plant makes an excellent groundcover in sunny or dappled shade areas; small clusters of purple flowers rise above attractive, dense foliage in summer; does not do well in full shade or wet soil
Ornamental Features
Mountain Pea features delicate clusters of purple pea-like flowers held atop the stems from late spring to late summer. Its attractive glossy pointy compound leaves emerge chartreuse in spring, turning light green in color the rest of the year.
Landscape Attributes
Mountain Pea is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Self-Seeding
Mountain Pea is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Groundcover
- Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
Planting & Growing
Mountain Pea will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America..
