Sweet Pea vs Sweet Potato

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

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fabaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Sweet Potato

Ipomoea batatas

Convolvulaceae · vegetables

EdibleDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Sweet Pea (Zones 2-11)

Sweet Potato (Zones 3-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 3–11

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Sweet Pea	Sweet Potato
Scientific Name	Lathyrus odoratus	Ipomoea batatas
Family	Fabaceae	Convolvulaceae
Category	flowers	vegetables
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Well-drained	Loose, Sandy
Height	6'	1'
Spread	1'	4'
Bloom Season	Spring-Summer	Late Summer-Fall
Bloom Color	Mixed	Purple (occasional)
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Italy, Sicily	Central/South America
Maintenance	Medium	Low

Special Traits

Sweet Pea

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Sweet Potato

Yes — EdibleNo — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

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.

Sweet Potato

✓Plant slips (rooted sprouts) after soil warms.
✓Needs loose soil and warm temperatures.
✓Cure harvested tubers at 80°F for 10 days.
✓Don't refrigerate.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

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.

Choose Sweet Potato if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View Sweet PeaProfile →View Sweet PotatoProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

Sweet Pea needs full sun and medium water, while Sweet Potato needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Sweet Pea or Sweet Potato?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Sweet Potato at 1'. Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Sweet Potato spreads 4'.

Are Sweet Pea and Sweet Potato deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Sweet Pea or Sweet Potato?

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

Explore More Data Tools

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

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Sweet Pea	Sweet Potato
Scientific Name	Lathyrus odoratus	Ipomoea batatas
Family	Fabaceae	Convolvulaceae
Category	flowers	vegetables
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Well-drained	Loose, Sandy
Height	6'	1'
Spread	1'	4'
Bloom Season	Spring-Summer	Late Summer-Fall
Bloom Color	Mixed	Purple (occasional)
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Italy, Sicily	Central/South America
Maintenance	Medium	Low

Care Tips

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.

Sweet Potato

✓Plant slips (rooted sprouts) after soil warms.
✓Needs loose soil and warm temperatures.
✓Cure harvested tubers at 80°F for 10 days.
✓Don't refrigerate.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

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.

Choose Sweet Potato if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

Sweet Pea needs full sun and medium water, while Sweet Potato needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Sweet Pea or Sweet Potato?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Sweet Potato at 1'. Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Sweet Potato spreads 4'.

Are Sweet Pea and Sweet Potato deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Sweet Pea or Sweet Potato?

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