The common name "sweet pea" comes from its use in early spring when the flowers are still white and have a slight sweetness. Sweet peas can be either biennial or perennial depending on climate and soil conditions.
Sweet Peas are an herbaceous plant, and native to Europe. They are commonly called snowdrops, but in fact they do not belong to the genus Ranunculus, which contains buttercups. They are actually members of the pea family (Leguminosae), and have a number of common names including garden pea, snapdragon, and sweet pea.
In some countries, they are also known as French bean, but this is a misnomer since the name refers to the bean-like pods of the pea, not the peas themselves. Sweet peas are grown for their attractive flowers, and also because of the ornamental qualities of their foliage. Peas are among the earliest spring bulbs planted in the garden.