sweet pea shrub

Year-round

Sweet pea shrub is a fast growing evergreen shrub with purple-pink, sweet pea shaped flowers that bloom on and off most of the year in the mild Bay Area. It wants sun and sharp drainage, and it is not long lived.

• Plant in full sun for the most flowers. A little afternoon shade helps in hotter inland spots.
• Use well drained soil and avoid low spots that stay wet.
• Water regularly while it settles in, then ease off to every week or two in dry weather once established.
• Expect it to live only a handful of years, so plan to replace it rather than fight a tired plant.
• It is hardy to roughly 18 degrees F, which suits most Bay Area gardens.

Light shearing keeps the shrub dense and neat along a front walk.

Fall

Fall keeps the blooms going and is a good time to plant before winter rain.

• Plant now so roots settle in with the winter rains.
• Cut back watering as the rain returns.
• Check that nearby plants are not crowding the shrub, since air flow keeps it healthy.

Winter

Winter is the time to shear and reshape.

• In late winter, shear the shrub lightly to keep it dense. It can look a bit twiggy for a few weeks, then rebounds quickly.
• Rarely needs water during the rainy season.
• A rare hard frost below about 18 degrees F can damage it, which is uncommon near San Francisco.

Shearing in late winter keeps a visible front-yard shrub looking tended before the spring bloom.

Spring

Spring is peak growth and heavy bloom around San Francisco.

• Flowers keep coming through spring, so just keep soil from drying out completely in the first year.
• Plant new shrubs now while the weather is mild.
• Skip heavy feeding, since it grows fast on average soil.

Summer

Summer is easy in the cool San Francisco summer, and the shrub keeps blooming.

• Water every week or two once established, more often for young plants.
• Foggy coastal spots often bloom the most, so do not worry about fog.
• Trim off any stray long shoots to keep the shape tidy.