Fountain Grass vs Sweet Pea

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

Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Poaceae · grasses

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fabaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Fountain Grass (Zones 5-9)

Sweet Pea (Zones 2-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 5–9

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Fountain Grass	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Pennisetum alopecuroides	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Poaceae	Fabaceae
Category	grasses	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Well-drained
Height	4'	6'
Spread	3'	1'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	Pink, Tan	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	East Asia, Australia	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Fountain Grass

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Sweet Pea

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Fountain Grass

✓Cut back to 6 inches in late winter before new growth.
✓Divide every 3-4 years.
✓Leave seed heads for winter interest.
✓Drought tolerant once established.

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 Fountain Grass if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 5–9.

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 5–9. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View Fountain GrassProfile →View Sweet PeaProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Fountain Grass and Sweet Pea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Fountain Grass grows in USDA zones 5-9, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 9.

Do Fountain Grass and Sweet Pea have the same sun and water needs?

Fountain Grass 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, Fountain Grass or Sweet Pea?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Fountain Grass at 4'. Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Fountain Grass spreads 3'.

Are Fountain Grass and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

Yes, both Fountain Grass and Sweet Pea are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Fountain Grass or Sweet Pea?

Fountain Grass has low maintenance while Sweet Pea has medium maintenance. Fountain Grass may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Fountain Grass	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Pennisetum alopecuroides	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Poaceae	Fabaceae
Category	grasses	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Well-drained
Height	4'	6'
Spread	3'	1'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	Pink, Tan	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	East Asia, Australia	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Fountain Grass

✓Cut back to 6 inches in late winter before new growth.
✓Divide every 3-4 years.
✓Leave seed heads for winter interest.
✓Drought tolerant once established.

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 Fountain Grass if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 5–9.

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 5–9. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Fountain Grass and Sweet Pea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Fountain Grass grows in USDA zones 5-9, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 9.

Do Fountain Grass and Sweet Pea have the same sun and water needs?

Fountain Grass 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, Fountain Grass or Sweet Pea?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Fountain Grass at 4'. Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Fountain Grass spreads 3'.

Are Fountain Grass and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

Yes, both Fountain Grass and Sweet Pea are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Fountain Grass or Sweet Pea?

Fountain Grass has low maintenance while Sweet Pea has medium maintenance. Fountain Grass may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.