Flower of the week: Lathyrus vernus

This choosing a flower of the week lark gets harder as more and more flowers open every day. I’ve picked Lathyrus vernus because I love it, especially the original true blue plant. I had several varieties in my old garden.

The one shown here I bought a couple of years ago as ‘Rainbow’, from the sales table at a Plant Heritage (NCCPG) meeting, always a good source of unusual plants. If the seller grew it from seed it may not be ‘Rainbow’ at all, but it is very pretty. Lathyrus vernus is a low growing little plant, good for the back of a border because it doesn’t look like much after it’s flowered. It’s totally hardy. Last year, slugs got at this particular plant and this is the first year I’ll have a decent display. I must remember to save the seeds and see what I get from them.