Sweet Pea vs Vinca

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

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fabaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Vinca

Vinca minor

Apocynaceae · groundcovers

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Sweet Pea (Zones 2-11)

Vinca (Zones 4-9)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 4–9

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Sweet Pea	Vinca
Scientific Name	Lathyrus odoratus	Vinca minor
Family	Fabaceae	Apocynaceae
Category	flowers	groundcovers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Well-drained	Adaptable
Height	6'	6"
Spread	1'	2'
Bloom Season	Spring-Summer	Spring
Bloom Color	Mixed	Blue, Purple, White
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Italy, Sicily	Europe
Maintenance	Medium	Low

Special Traits

Sweet Pea

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Vinca

No — EdibleYes — 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.

Vinca

✓Can be aggressive — plant where spreading is desired.
✓Mow or trim in early spring to rejuvenate.
✓Excellent for erosion control on banks.
✓Avoid planting near natural areas.

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 Vinca if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full shade with medium water in zones 4–9.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 4–9. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View Sweet PeaProfile →View VincaProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Sweet Pea grows in USDA zones 2-11, while Vinca grows in zones 4-9. Both plants can grow together in zones 4 through 9.

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

Sweet Pea needs full sun and medium water, while Vinca needs part shade to full shade and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Sweet Pea or Vinca?

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

Are Sweet Pea and Vinca deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Sweet Pea or Vinca?

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

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Sweet Pea	Vinca
Scientific Name	Lathyrus odoratus	Vinca minor
Family	Fabaceae	Apocynaceae
Category	flowers	groundcovers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Well-drained	Adaptable
Height	6'	6"
Spread	1'	2'
Bloom Season	Spring-Summer	Spring
Bloom Color	Mixed	Blue, Purple, White
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Italy, Sicily	Europe
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.

Vinca

✓Can be aggressive — plant where spreading is desired.
✓Mow or trim in early spring to rejuvenate.
✓Excellent for erosion control on banks.
✓Avoid planting near natural areas.

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 Vinca if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full shade with medium water in zones 4–9.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 4–9. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Sweet Pea grows in USDA zones 2-11, while Vinca grows in zones 4-9. Both plants can grow together in zones 4 through 9.

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

Sweet Pea needs full sun and medium water, while Vinca needs part shade to full shade and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Sweet Pea or Vinca?

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

Are Sweet Pea and Vinca deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Sweet Pea or Vinca?

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