Stem

  • Up to 5 ft. tall and covered with short hairs
Photo of Swainsonpea plant

Leaves

  • Pinnate-compound; leaflets are oval, opposite, 0.2-0.8 in. long, lack leaf stems (petioles) and covered with short hairs on lower surface
Photo of Swainsonpea plant with pink flowers

Flower

  • Pea-like, reddish-orange and 0.5 in. long
  • Pods are oval, bladder-like, translucent and contain many seeds; seeds remain in pods during dispersal 
Photo of Swainsonpea plant with pink flowers

Root

  • Woody, creeping root system; roots associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Photo of Swainsonpea plant with small pink flowers

Other

  • Often infests roadsides, fencerows and irrigation ditches; not known to occur in Nevada
  • Perennial; reproduces by seed and creeping roots
  • Potential contaminant of alfalfa seed due to similar size, shape and weight
  • Also known as Austrian peaweed
 

Control

  • Hand removal of individual plants, including roots, can limit spread of small infestations 
  • Apply 2,4-D, aminopyralid, clopyralid, dicamba, glyphosate, picloram, or triclopyr at bloom stage
Peer Review Logo
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Swainsonpea, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Learn more about the author(s)

Heidi Kratsch
Heidi Kratsch
 

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