Sweet peas are very well known for their
fragrant flowers. Buy your favorite sweet pea seeds, or purchase a
combination of blends and mix the seeds for a scented and more colorful
garden. They are available in a wide range of colors, sizes, shapes and
levels of fragrance. Sweet peas can be annual or perennial flowers.
Plant both kinds and you'll have a variety of bloom colors from April through
September.
The seed coat of sweet peas is so hard, it
takes a while to soak up enough moisture for germination. You can speed
germination if you nick the seed coats with a file or soak seeds overnight in
tepid water. You can start them inside, but keep the temperatures fairly low
(55-65F) since they prefer cool conditions. If you sow them outside, do so
shortly before your last spring frost. They need full sun to grow well and
flower abundantly. Sweet peas can be a bit touchy but when they reach 4-6
inches tall, you can carefully pinch them back to encourage them to branch out.
They usually will start clinging to support when they get a little taller, but
you can encourage that by gently wrapping their tendrils around.
Annual sweet peas last for such a
short while that planting them close together will allow for a very full look,
space them about six inches apart along the trellis. The annual Sweet Pea blooms
in many colors and are sometimes multicolored. The normal bloom time is spring -
early summer, before the weather gets too hot.
The perennial sweet pea, however,
is a much rangier plant so it is suggested to plant them 12 to 18 inches apart.
If you are using transplants rather than seeds, you might want to space them a
bit closer together. Sweet peas do not always transplant well so you may have
some losses. The perennial type is a strong growing vine (up to 9 feet)
with blue-green foliage. The flowers are can be reddish purple, white or rose
and are produced from June - September if not allowed to go to seed. (If you
deadhead frequently you'll prolong the bloom.)
The Sweet Pea America, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a very old heirloom sweet pea traced back to 1896. The crimson stripes on the soft white petal look like an exotic butterfly perched on a stem. The America is very fragrant and is a summer bloomer. The blooming period depends partially upon the weather because the plants usually stop blooming once the weather warms up. They are used for cut flowers and for covering fences and walls if given the proper support.
The Sweet Pea Bouquet Blend, 'Lathyrus odoratus', was developed with longer, heavier stems and larger flowers to make an ideal sweet pea for cut flowers. The Bouquet Blend has 1.5 to 2.5 inch flowers in colors of purple, rose, white, pink, blue, scarlet, cream, and salmon. The sweet peas bloom in the spring and the duration of blooming depends on the weather. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom. They are used for cut flowers and covering for fences and walls if given proper support.
The Sweet Pea Cupani, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a very old heirloom sweet pea traced back to 1699. Father Franciscus Cupani sent it to England during the late 1600's. The Cupani displays 2 inch flowers that are purple and deep blue bicolor. This sweet pea is also very fragrant. The sweet peas bloom in the spring and the duration of blooming depends on the weather. The plants stop blooming once the weather warms up. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, and wall coverings if given the proper support.
The Sweet Pea Cupid Pink, 'Lathyrus adoratus', is a dwarf Sweet pea. The compact plants are covered with masses of pink and white bicolored flowers that are ideal for hanging baskets and patio planters. For striking color combinations, try Cupid Pink with burgundy-foliage plants such as coleus, sweet potato vine, or hyacinth bean vine. The small bicolored flowers are slightly fragrant. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom. They are used for cut flowers, and ground cover.
The Sweet Pea Early Multiflora Mix, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is superior for winter bloom in warm winter climates and early spring blooms in cold climates. It is one of the few sweet peas that will bloom during the short days of winter in warm climates. The 1 to 2 inch flowers are in colors of purple, red, rose, white, pink, blue, scarlet, cream, and salmon. The Early Multiflora Mix is best for greenhouse forcing and it is mildly fragrant. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, and wall coverings if given the proper support.
The Sweet Pea In the Pink,
'Lathyrus odoratus', is a designer blend of warm shades of pink and highlights of salmon, almond, cerise and mauve.
Sweet Peas have 1 to 2 inch flowers that are romantically fragrant and are wonderful cut flowers in bunches. In the Pink generally bloom for 3 to 5 weeks. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, and wall coverings if given the proper support.
The Sweet Pea Streamers, 'Lathyrus odaratus', is a new blend with streaks of vibrant colors including blue, orange, chocolate, and scarlet. They are like the streamers on a maypole which is a wonderful celebration of spring. Streamer is a "flake" type of flower with bold pattern of dark streaks of color on a light or white background. They make an excellent cut flower. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, fence and wall covering, and in large pots.
The Sweet Pea Little Sweetheart, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a very dwarf, bushy type with many small flowers close to the foliage. Try this plant in your hanging baskets and other containers. Little Sweetheart is not your ordinary vining, climbing sweet pea. This plant is a dome of foliage with profuse, small flowers of pink, white, rose, lilac and blue. They are charming in patio pots, window boxes and in borders. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom.
The Sweet Pea Melody Blend, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a symphony of colors. The 1 to 2 inch flowers appear in six bicolors: deep red/scarlet, deep lavender/light lavender, soft lavender/white, claret/violet blue and soft pink/blush. The flowers are lightly fragrant. The sweet peas bloom in the spring and the duration of blooming depends on the weather. The plants stop blooming once the weather warms up. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, fence and wall covering, and in large pots.
The Sweet Pea Miss Willmott, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a very old sweet pea traced back to 1901 and is named after the famous garden writer, Miss Willmott. Miss Willmott's deep orange-pink color will add delight to any garden. It is a summer bloomer and in areas without long, cool springs, this excellent variety will continue to bloom as the temperatures begin to increase. The Miss Willmott Sweet Pea displays 2 inches blooms that are a deep orange-pink. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom.
The Sweet Pea Ocean Foam, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a special blend of heirloom old spice sweet peas that are highly scented and heat resistant. The Ocean Foam is a blend of navy, med-blue, light blue and cream colored 1 to 2 inch flowers. The sweet peas bloom in the spring and the duration of blooming depends on the weather. The plants stop blooming once the weather warms up. They will generally bloom 3 to 5 weeks. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, fence and wall covering, and in large pots.
The Sweet Pea Old Spice Blend, 'Lathyrus odoratus', exhibits a mixture of old heirloom sweet pea varieties. The Old Spice Blend displays a mixture of white, cream, pink, rose, scarlet, lavender, purple, bicolors, and striped flowers. The sweet peas bloom in the spring and the duration of blooming depends on the weather. The plants stop blooming once the weather warms up. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, fence and wall covering, and in large pots.
The Sweet Pea Pastel Sunset, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is an artist's palette of soft shades, including cream, almond, pink, lavender and white. The 1 to 2 inch flowers are lightly fragrant. The sweet peas bloom in the spring and the duration of blooming depends on the weather. The plants stop blooming once the weather warms up. They will generally bloom 3 to 5 weeks. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, fence and wall covering, and in large pots.
The Sweet Pea Pearl Blend Perennial, 'Lathyrus latifolius', blooms all summer long and tolerates drought. Enjoy the beauty and fragrance of Sweet Peas without planting every year. One problem gardeners have with sweet peas is sowing them too late. The 1.5 inch flowers are a little smaller than other sweet peas and range in color from white to purplish pink to purplish red. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more summer blooms. They are used for cut flowers and for covering fences and walls if given the proper support.
The Sweet Pea Perfume Delight, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a mixture of several colors of very fragrant sweet peas. The fragrance of these flowers will take you to times past. The flowers are slightly smaller, 3/4 to 1 inch flowers, than other annual sweet peas, but they are more heat resistant. They will bloom about 1 week longer than other sweet peas. They are used for cut flowers and for covering fences and walls if given the proper support.
The Sweet Pea Royal Family Blend, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a vining, spring flower type of sweet pea. The royal series are larger flowered and more heat resistant than other spring types. Sweet peas are romantically fragrant and are wonderful cut flowers in bunches. These spring flowering sweet peas have a very wide range of color shades. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom. They are used for cut flowers and for covering fences and walls if given the proper support.
The Sweet Pea Singing the Blues, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is a designer blend of cool shades of blue, ranging from deep rich tones to delicate pastel colors. The 1 to 2 inch flowers are slightly fragrant. The sweet peas bloom in the spring and the duration of blooming depends on the weather. The plants stop blooming once the weather warms up. They will generally bloom 3 to 5 weeks. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, fence and wall covering, and in large pots.
The Sweet Pea Starry Night, 'Lathyrus odoratus', is an artistic blend of heirloom Old Spice sweet peas that are highly scented and heat resistant. The dark shades with cream accents evoke the look of a clear summer night. The Starry Night is a blend of violet-blue, midnight, crimson and cream-colored sweet pea 1 to 2 inch flowers. The sweet peas bloom in the spring and the duration of blooming depends on the weather. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, fence and wall covering, and in large pots.
The Sweet Pea Streamers, 'Lathyrus odaratus', is a new blend with streaks of vibrant colors including blue, orange, chocolate and scarlet. They are like the streamers on a maypole which is a wonderful celebration of spring. Streamer is a "flake" type of flower with bold pattern of dark streaks of color on a light or white background. They make an excellent cut flower. In warm climates, plant in October through January for spring bloom. They are used for cut flowers, ground cover, fence and wall covering, and in large pots.
