Pronounced (approximate): LATH-ih-rus oh-kroh-LOO-kus
Cream-white pea flowers hang in small clusters.
Cream Pea (Lathyrus ochroleucus): flowers and plant details. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Fabaceae
Life cycle Climbing or sprawling perennial
Blooms May–July
Height 1–3 feet
Habitat Open woods, woodland edges, and shaded slopes
Common names: Cream Pea · Pale Vetchling · Cream Vetchling
Bloom timing and height vary with location. See the regional range below.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
Open woods, woodland edges, and shaded slopes. Flowering season: may–july.
Broad leaflets and pale flowers help distinguish this woodland pea from narrow-leaved or purple-flowered relatives.
Cream-white pea flowers hang in small clusters.
Leaves carry several pairs of broad oval leaflets.
A terminal tendril and large leafy stipules accompany the leaflets.
Open woods, woodland edges, and shaded slopes.
11 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Native across much of Canada and the northern United States.
Documented U.S. state records
AK, ID, IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NJ, NY, ND, OH, PA, SD, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Documented state occurrences; native and introduced records may both be included. This is not a county-level map.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Cream Pea in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.