Strawberry vs Sweet Pea

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

Strawberry

Fragaria × ananassa

Rosaceae · groundcovers

EdibleMedium Maintenance

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fabaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Strawberry (Zones 3-10)

Sweet Pea (Zones 2-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 3–10

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Strawberry	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Fragaria × ananassa	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Rosaceae	Fabaceae
Category	groundcovers	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Well-drained, Acidic	Rich, Well-drained
Height	8"	6'
Spread	1' 6"	1'
Bloom Season	Spring-Summer	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	White	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Hybrid (Americas/Europe)	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Medium	Medium

Special Traits

Strawberry

Yes — EdibleNo — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Sweet Pea

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Strawberry

✓Plant with crown at soil level.
✓Remove first-year flowers on June-bearers.
✓Mulch with straw.
✓Replace plants every 3 years.
✓Net against birds.

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 Strawberry if you don't mind medium maintenance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 3–10.

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 3–10. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View StrawberryProfile →View Sweet PeaProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Strawberry grows in USDA zones 3-10, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 10.

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

Strawberry 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, Strawberry or Sweet Pea?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Strawberry at 8". Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Strawberry spreads 1' 6".

Are Strawberry and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Strawberry or Sweet Pea?

Both Strawberry and Sweet Pea have medium maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.

Explore More Data Tools

For adjacent public-data tools, methodology notes, and network updates, visit DataPeek Facts.

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Strawberry	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Fragaria × ananassa	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Rosaceae	Fabaceae
Category	groundcovers	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Well-drained, Acidic	Rich, Well-drained
Height	8"	6'
Spread	1' 6"	1'
Bloom Season	Spring-Summer	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	White	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Hybrid (Americas/Europe)	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Medium	Medium

Care Tips

Strawberry

✓Plant with crown at soil level.
✓Remove first-year flowers on June-bearers.
✓Mulch with straw.
✓Replace plants every 3 years.
✓Net against birds.

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 Strawberry if you don't mind medium maintenance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 3–10.

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 3–10. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Strawberry grows in USDA zones 3-10, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 10.

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

Strawberry 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, Strawberry or Sweet Pea?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Strawberry at 8". Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Strawberry spreads 1' 6".

Are Strawberry and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Strawberry or Sweet Pea?

Both Strawberry and Sweet Pea have medium maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.