Petunia vs Sweet Pea

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

Petunia

Petunia × hybrida

Solanaceae · flowers

Low Maintenance

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fabaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Petunia (Zones 2-11)

Sweet Pea (Zones 2-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 2–11

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Petunia	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Petunia × hybrida	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Solanaceae	Fabaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Well-drained
Height	1'	6'
Spread	2'	1'
Bloom Season	Spring-Fall	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	Mixed	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	South America	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Petunia

No — EdibleNo — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Sweet Pea

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Petunia

✓Fertilize every 2 weeks for best bloom.
✓Trim back leggy plants by half in midsummer for revival.
✓Water regularly but don't overwater.
✓Excellent in hanging baskets.

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 Petunia if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

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 2–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View PetuniaProfile →View Sweet PeaProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Petunia and Sweet Pea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Petunia grows in USDA zones 2-11, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 2 through 11.

Do Petunia and Sweet Pea have the same sun and water needs?

Petunia 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, Petunia or Sweet Pea?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Petunia at 1'. Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Petunia spreads 2'.

Are Petunia and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

Sweet Pea is deer resistant, but Petunia is not. If deer are a concern, Sweet Pea is the better choice, or protect Petunia with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, Petunia or Sweet Pea?

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

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Petunia	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Petunia × hybrida	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Solanaceae	Fabaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Well-drained
Height	1'	6'
Spread	2'	1'
Bloom Season	Spring-Fall	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	Mixed	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	South America	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Petunia

✓Fertilize every 2 weeks for best bloom.
✓Trim back leggy plants by half in midsummer for revival.
✓Water regularly but don't overwater.
✓Excellent in hanging baskets.

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 Petunia if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

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 2–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Petunia and Sweet Pea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Petunia grows in USDA zones 2-11, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 2 through 11.

Do Petunia and Sweet Pea have the same sun and water needs?

Petunia 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, Petunia or Sweet Pea?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Petunia at 1'. Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Petunia spreads 2'.

Are Petunia and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

Sweet Pea is deer resistant, but Petunia is not. If deer are a concern, Sweet Pea is the better choice, or protect Petunia with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, Petunia or Sweet Pea?

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