Earth Nut Pea

Lathyrus tuberosus

Not native to Kentucky

Photographs are not available yet.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

22CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Lathyrus

Apantesis phylliraPhyllira Tiger Moth
Cecropterus pyladesNorthern Cloudywing
Chloridea virescensTobacco Budworm Moth
Chrysodeixis includensSoybean Looper Moth
Colias eurythemeOrange Sulphur, Alfalfa Butterfly
Colias philodiceClouded Sulphur, Clover Butterfly
Cupido comyntasEastern Tailed-Blue
Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
Epargyreus clarusSilver-Spotted Skipper
Gesta juvenalisJuvenal's Duskywing

Show all 22

Glaucopsyche lygdamusSilvery Blue
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Heliothis phloxiphagaSpotted Straw Sun Moth, Darker Spotted Straw Moth
Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
Spodoptera albulaWhite-Spotted Armyworm, Gray-Streaked Armyworm
Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
Trichoplusia niNi Moth, Cabbage Looper Moth
Urbanus proteusLong-Tailed Skipper, Bean Leaf Roller
Caryocolum pullatella
Micrurapteryx occulta

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

1Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Lathyrus

Megachile melanophaea

Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

2BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Lathyrus

Agelaius phoeniceusRed-winged Blackbird
Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Fabaceae

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Mid spring” · USDA PLANTS via EOL TraitBank · Nationwide approximate species characteristics; tolerance categories do not specify sun hours or moisture requirements
Height · “About 1.5 feet” · USDA PLANTS via EOL TraitBank · Nationwide approximate species characteristics; tolerance categories do not specify sun hours or moisture requirements
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Minnesota Wildflowers

Also known as

Earth Nut Pea; Earth Nutpea; Tuberous Pea; Tuberous Sweet Pea; Tuberous Sweetpea; Tuberous Vetchling

Conservation status

Kentucky rank	SNA
Global rank	Not available
KY status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources