Black-Eyed Susan Vine vs Sweet Pea

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

Thunbergia alata

Acanthaceae · vines

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fabaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Zones 10-11)

Sweet Pea (Zones 2-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 10–11

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan Vine	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Thunbergia alata	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Acanthaceae	Fabaceae
Category	vines	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Well-drained
Height	8'	6'
Spread	2'	1'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	Orange, Yellow, White	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	East Africa	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Sweet Pea

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

✓Treat as annual in most zones.
✓Provide trellis or let trail from basket.
✓Deadhead for continuous bloom.
✓Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.

Sweet Pea

✓Soak seeds overnight before planting.
✓Provide trellis or netting.
✓Pick flowers frequently to prolong bloom.
✓Needs cool weather — plant early spring or fall in warm areas.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan Vine if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 10–11.

Choose Sweet Pea if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 10–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View Black-Eyed Susan VineProfile →View Sweet PeaProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Pea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 10 through 11.

Do Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Pea have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine needs full sun and medium water, while Sweet Pea needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Sweet Pea?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows taller at 8' compared to Sweet Pea at 6'. Black-Eyed Susan Vine spreads 2' while Sweet Pea spreads 1'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Pea are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Sweet Pea?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine has low maintenance while Sweet Pea has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan Vine may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan Vine	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Thunbergia alata	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Acanthaceae	Fabaceae
Category	vines	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Well-drained
Height	8'	6'
Spread	2'	1'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	Orange, Yellow, White	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	East Africa	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

✓Treat as annual in most zones.
✓Provide trellis or let trail from basket.
✓Deadhead for continuous bloom.
✓Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.

Sweet Pea

✓Soak seeds overnight before planting.
✓Provide trellis or netting.
✓Pick flowers frequently to prolong bloom.
✓Needs cool weather — plant early spring or fall in warm areas.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan Vine if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 10–11.

Choose Sweet Pea if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 10–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Pea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 10 through 11.

Do Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Pea have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine needs full sun and medium water, while Sweet Pea needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Sweet Pea?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows taller at 8' compared to Sweet Pea at 6'. Black-Eyed Susan Vine spreads 2' while Sweet Pea spreads 1'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Pea are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Sweet Pea?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine has low maintenance while Sweet Pea has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan Vine may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.