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Snap peas or sweet peas? #902709

Asked May 23, 2025, 1:30 PM EDT

We planted snap peas of a white flowering variety, but have some vines with purple flowers coming up. The seed company said they couldn't with certainty confirm that the purple ones were their magnolia blossom snap peas and so not to eat anything from them, then later said the pods of snap and sweet peas would be different. I have two questions: 1) can you tell from the flowers if these are snap and not sweet peas? (I included a picture of the white ones for comparison, but since the wrong seeds got into the packet I'm worried that even the white ones may not be edible). 2) Will we be able to tell with certainty if they're edible once the pods develop? My understanding is that sweet pea pods are thinner and fuzzy, and snap peas will be smooth and fatter. Is this always the case?

Washington County Oregon

Expert Response

Hello,

Sorry for the delay! It's hard to reliably distinguish snap peas from sweet peas just from flower color or shape. The purple-flowered plant in the first image does resemble Magnolia Blossom snap peas, but sweet peas can also have purple/pink flowers.

Mostly, yes, you will be able to distinguish snap pea pods and sweet pea pods. Snap pea pods are smooth, plump, round, or flat and have no fuzzy/hairy surface, while sweet pea pods are thin, tough, and hairy/fuzzy. You can easily snap pod when young from snap pea plants.

Another determining factor can be the plant/flower smell. Sweet pea flowers smell sweet or perfumed, and snap pea flowers smell mild "green-type".

I suggest waiting until pods develop. Do not eat from the purple-flowered plants until you are certain. If pods are fuzzy, thin, or leathery, discard the plant as they are potentially toxic. Since there's a possibility of seed mix-up, please be cautious! 

Thank you!

Srijana Shrestha (she/her) Replied June 02, 2025, 4:42 PM EDT

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