These sweet peas are some of our favorites. They are consistently excellent varieties and have a wonderful aroma. We grow about 50 varieties a year. We have discovered the best sweet peas for cutting and garden growth via expertise. With the exception of some outstanding extremely old sweet peas, all sweet pea varieties decline over time. When this happens, we will test out similar colors and switch out the old variety for the new one. Linda Carole is a prime example of this (see below).
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Linda Carole’
developed by Derek Heathcote, who has created a number of excellent varieties since opening his company in 1992. Similar to “Mars,” this stunning bloom appears to grow better from seed. It has a thin line (referred to as a “picotee” in sweet pea jargon) that surrounds the white background and has a carmine stripe. For a new kind, the aroma is excellent. Since we have been cultivating Linda Carole for almost four years, we especially suggest it for cutting.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’
an ancient kind that has been around for a long time. Of all the highly aromatic sweet peas, it is arguably the most well-known. The bloom is smaller than contemporary types, but it makes up for its little size with an exquisite perfume. The smellometer reads “10/10”! a bushy plant with lots of blossoms. By tucking the flowers into the back of a larger bouquet, the fragrance will permeate the entire arrangement.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Our Harry.’
When we first began producing sweet peas, we grew popular blue kinds like “Noel Sutton.” I fell in love with this pea the moment I spotted it at the Chelsea Flower Show one year, across a busy floral tent. The large, fragrant blue blossoms and crisp, translucent color definitely catch my eye. We have chosen to set aside a trial bed for blue sweet peas for 2019 because a variety of varieties that are identical to these blue sweet peas have lately entered the market. It will be intriguing to see if the ‘Our Harry’ can match the exquisite quality and aroma.
Sweet Pea ‘Valerie Harrod.’
is a standout addition to any collection of sweet peas since it differs from most other peas in having a peachy tone in its soft pink blossoms. This sweet pea is for aficionados. It has a pleasant aroma for a Spencer sweet pea, makes large, gorgeous flowers, and grows quickly. The color of sweet pea ‘Evening Glow’ is comparable. Add some pastels to the mix or use complementing hues like “Our Harry” or “Kingfisher.” Our sweet pea supports appear to be quite healthy and full of bloom right now.
Grandiflora Sweet Peas
The ancient sweet pea kinds are truly amazing. Grandiflora sweet peas, Antique sweet peas, or Heritage sweet peas are other names for them. Although their flowers are smaller than those of modern or spencer kinds, their plants are very garden-worthy due to their bushiness and plenty of flowers. Additionally, they are the ideal sweet pea for containers. Grandiflora sweet peas are the ones to cultivate if you want the best-scented sweet peas because of the exceptional amount of perfume they create. The crimson “Queen Alexandra” is shown in the background of this image, with “The Major” in the foreground.
There are more than 50 different types of sweet peas on display in the gardens, and you can purchase our specially selected assortment of sweet pea seeds there or online through our store.
Which sweet peas are the best?
Sweet peas with the finest smell
- Albutt Blue Lathyrus
- America Lathyrus
- Matucana Lathyrus
- ‘Erewhon’ Lathyrus
- Katherine Louise Lathyrus
- ‘Janet Scott’ Lathyrus
- The “Black Knight” Lathyrus
- ‘Bramdean’ Lathyrus
Do all sweet peas have a scent?
Sweet peas generally have a strong, rich fragrance, but some varieties stand out for theirs.
Although the ancestral Grandiflora-type sweet peas have historically been cultivated for scent, you shouldn’t disregard the Spencer and contemporary Grandiflora-types. Grandifloras of today blend the Spencer-types’ huge flowers and long stems with the fragrance of vintage Grandifloras.
Keep deadheading them and making sure the soil is wet to provide a steady supply of blossoms all summer long. When planting, amend the soil with a lot of well-rotted manure or garden compost to help the soil retain moisture.
The sweet peas with the most blossoms are which?
The traditional annual climber, sweet peas look wonderful both in pots and in borders. Large flowers and long stems make “Spencer Mix” a good cut flower, but “Cupani” and “Painted Lady” are especially attractive since they cover the support well with short stems and have a strong fragrance.
Sutera cordata ‘Snowflake’, a trailing plant, and Felicia amelloides ‘Variegata,’ a plant with variegated leaves, both add to the cottage garden-inspired design.
Lathyrus odorous ‘Fire and Ice’
Fantastic grandiflora sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus ‘Fire and Ice’ produces masses of dark pink and purple-blue blooms with a potent smell.
Lathyrus odorous ‘Almost Black’
Modern grandiflora cultivar Lathyrus odoratus “Almost Black” produces copious quantities of fragrant dark maroon flowers all summer long. The nearly black blossoms lend a dramatic touch to floral displays and gardens.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘St George’
The Spencer-type sweet pea variety Lathyrus odoratus “St George” is a wonderful combination of red and white, the colors of the St. George flag. The flowers’ long water-lasting blossoms make them ideal for cutting.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Promiscuity’
Pink, purple, and white are just a few of the gorgeous, fragrant, bicolored bloom colors that Lathyrus odoratus ‘Promiscuity’ produces. The flowers’ long water-lasting blossoms make them ideal for cutting.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Prima Ballerina’
Lilac, purple, and pink are just a few of the gorgeous, delicately scented bloom colors that Lathyrus odoratus ‘Prima Ballerina’ produces. The flowers’ long water-lasting blossoms make them ideal for cutting.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Pandemonium’
Flake sweet peas, such as Lathyrus odoratus ‘Pandemonium,’ have blossoms with a light background and darker stripes or “flakes” covering them. Its huge, dark pink flaking blooms with wavy edges are on sturdy stems and are a Spencer-type.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Geranium Pink’
A wonderful Spencer-type sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus “Geranium Pink” produces multitudes of blossoms in a gorgeous shade of pink and has a pleasant aroma.
Are sweet pea blossoms fragrant?
Even the most common sweet pea blossoms, with their pink, purple, and white coloring, are a sight to behold: delicate yet beguiling at the same time, sweet pea flowers have come to be associated with elegance and grace since they were first cultivated in Sicily about 300 years ago. One of the best-smelling flowers in existence today is considered to be the sweet pea.
In the late Victorian era, the sweet pea was a well-liked plant that was prized for its variety of color and aroma. Morning is the greatest time to collect sweet pea flowers since the dew will make them smell better.
Make sure to only collect flowers once the blossoms have fully developed (otherwise the plant will develop premature side-growths). Picking the flowers frequently will encourage the plant to focus more of its energy on blooming as opposed to seeds, which will promote the growth of additional flowers. This is a win-win situation for both the gardener and the plant.
Sweet peas have been bred to produce stronger stalks and larger flowers due to their weak stems and robust orange-jasmine-honey perfume, albeit this tends to weaken a flower’s scent over time.
However, it would be difficult to discover a bloom with a more wonderful aroma than the modest, charming sweet pea. After all, there’s a reason why “sweet pea” is a popular scent for soap and perfume.
Do enduring sweet peas have a smell?
Although perennial or everlasting peas don’t have the same fragrant blossoms as their annual counterparts, they do come back every year and die back underground in the winter.
Sweet peas from Spencer have a smell.
Spencer Sweet peas are especially popular for cutting, display, and garden decoration because of their enormous, frilly blossoms and long stalks. All are scented and are summer flowering.
What are sweet pea grandiflora?
Henry Eckford, a Scottish horticulturist, selected specific strains for their larger-than-average flowers and improved overall performance before breeding them to produce grandiflora sweet peas.
In more recent, modern grandiflora variations, the big blossoms and long, straight stems of Spencer-type sweet peas are combined with the potent scent and vivid blooms of the original, heirloom grandifloras. They provide gorgeous, vivacious cut blooms for the home.
How to sow sweet pea seeds
Sweet pea flower seeds are frequently advised to be nicked or chipped before planting, as well as to soak in water or damp paper towels for the night, although none of these steps are necessary. Sweet peas thrive in root trainers, which are unique tall plug trays, or 9cm pots since they prefer to have a long root run. But a toilet paper roll’s cardboard interior will also work.
Individual seeds can be sown in toilet paper inners or root trainers, or two to three seeds can be planted in a 9 cm pot. The container should be filled with seed compost, dampened, and then the seed should be pushed in with your finger to a depth of about 1 cm. Add some compost to the top and gradually water. Put the pots in a protected area that is well-lit. Unlike other seeds, they do not require additional heat from a propagator. When the seedlings emerge, place the pots somewhere sunny and cold, ideally between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius, or else they will grow long and lanky.
What month do you plant sweet peas?
Sweet peas can be purchased as plug plants or are produced from seed. If starting from seeds, you can plant them in the spring (February to April) or the autumn (usually October or November), and then nurture the seedlings into little plants.
Autumn and early spring seeds require a frost-free environment to thrive, such as a cold greenhouse or cold frame. It is better to wait and plant the seed later, in April, when you can start them off easily on a windowsill inside, if you don’t have a place that is cool and light like this. Alternately, in late April and early May, direct-sow outdoors in larger pots or the ground.
best varieties of sweet pea flowers
- The two-toned, dark pink and purple blossoms of Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’ have one of the greatest fragrances of any sweet pea. BUY NOW
- The strongly fragranced Lathyrus odoratus ‘Erewhon’ blooms in exquisite mauve-pink and pastel blue hues. BUY NOW
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Lord Nelson’ has deeper navy-blue to purple flowers that are smaller but intensely fragrant and produced in greater numbers per stem. BUY NOW
- An antique variety of annual sweet pea with vivid reddish-pink blossoms is called Lathyrus odoratus “King Edward II.” BUY NOW
- Popular early-flowering sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus “Painted Lady” has dark pink and light pinky-white petals.
- BUY NOW
- Hardy perennial sweet pea Lathyrus latifolius ‘White Pearl’ has all-white blooms. It doesn’t have a perfume yet consistently returns year after year and blooms until the fall. BUY NOW
How to grow and care for sweet pea flowers
When your sweet pea seedlings are about 10 cm tall after spring sowing, you can pinch out the tips to help them develop into vigorous, bushy plants with lots of flowering side shoots. Just above a pair of leaves, place the growing point at the top of the stem between your finger and thumb, squeeze it, and snip it off. Avoid pinching the tips of plants seeded in the fall.
Prepare your seedlings and plugs for growing outdoors by hardening them off after there is no possibility of frost, often starting in late May. To help them get acclimated to the cooler weather, this entails leaving them outside during the day and bringing them inside at night for about a week.
Their final growing location should be in a sunny, open area with fertile soil that has good drainage. Because they climb, annual sweet peas require a support to develop. trellis, netting, a cane teepee, a border obelisk, or a garden arch are typical examples. Plant the sweet peas 15-20 cm apart, 5 cm from the base of the support you’ve chosen.
If grown in pots, plant the compost with some slow-release fertilizer to keep the plants healthy all season. Keep the plants well-watered and keep an eye out for slug and snail damage.
Sweet pea blossoms should be secured to their support as they enlarge using garden twine or support rings. Once the sweet pea blooms begin to bloom, routinely treat them with tomato fertilizer. Continue picking flowers throughout the summer because the more you pick, the more are generated.
Do sweet peas come back every year?
Sweet pea blooms come in annual and perennial varieties. Lathyrus odoratus, an annual plant that must be sown from seed every year, is typically a climber with a strong fragrance. Every spring, the perennial or “everlasting” varieties of Lathyrus latifolius reappear, however the majority of them have little or no perfume. Some don’t climb; they are bushy.
What scent does a sweet pea have?
Sweet Pea is a sweet pea, watery pear, and rich raspberry fragrance that is incredibly cheery and suitable for any occasion or setting. In fact, it has long been a popular favorite. In middle school, you probably spritzed this outside your locker or used the Sweet Pea shower gel first thing in the morning. Sweet memories, yum. Every day, add a little happiness with…
- Sweet peas are a cheerful, upbeat flower that instantly puts a smile on your face.
- Pear: cool, energizing, and light
- the ideal fruit for a pleasant mixture.
- Raspberries have a tangy flavor with a pleasant fruity taste.
You can live the Sweet Pea life with us since we have everything you need. You’ll find it difficult to decide between some of our best products, like body lotions, fine fragrance mists, shower gels, and body creams, when there are options in your favorite Bath & Body Works shapes. After that, decorate your home with Wallflowers refills; you’ll adore how cheery they make it. Sweet Pea, remain sweet!
The sweet peas with the longest stalks, which ones?
Lathyrus odoratus, often known as “Mammoth Crimson,” is a kind of sweet pea known as a “Early Multiflora Gigantea.” They are the most well-liked among professional growers of cut flowers because they have the longest stems and largest, most fragrant blooms.
What height do Spencer sweetpeas reach?
The Spencer Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus), which date back to the 1900s, are still among the most well-liked and commonly farmed Sweet Peas. They bloom in a broad variety of alluring colors and are renowned for their wonderful fragrance, huge flowers, and exhibition-quality blooms. For high-quality flowers, their sturdy stems can be trained as cordons on canes, or they can be left to scramble wild to create a vibrant screen. The Spencer Sweet Peas are perfect for delivering cut flowers that will fill your home with their intoxicating aroma and always put on a spectacular show in the summer garden. Did you know that they will continue to bloom as long as they are picked?
- Sweet peas, which are native to the Mediterranean region, thrive in cold, mild conditions and have a lengthy blooming season that lasts from spring through October. Sweet peas dislike the heat and humidity.
- reaches heights of 4-6 ft (120-180 cm) and a width of 18 in (45 cm).
- Sweet peas prefer rich, humus-rich, medium-moisture, well-draining soils with full sun or mild shade. Cool soils with good air circulation produce the best results. The roots will stay cool and moist if there is a thick layer of mulch covering them. Before planting, incorporate well-rotted organic manure, and throughout the growing season, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Avoid watering from above.
- Mass plantings of sweet peas in borders, pots, or climbing and twining on arches or arbors look beautiful.
- Deer often ignore Sweet Peas, but they are attractive to bees and butterflies.
- Get a head start on the season by starting Sweet Peas inside in Zone 7 or colder. As soon as the earth is dry enough, plant sweet peas outside in the garden in very late winter or early spring. Sweet peas should be planted in Zones 8, 9, or 10 in the late fall so they can grow and blossom in the late winter and early spring. To speed germination, immerse the seeds in water for 24 hours prior to sowing. In a temperate climate, seeds don’t need to be soaked. Depending on the soil temperature, germination after planting can take anywhere from 7 to 15 days.
- When plants reach 6 inches (15 cm) in height, pinch off the tops to foster bushy growth. If you do so earlier, side-shoot growth will be encouraged.
- Regularly deadhead wasted flowers to promote fresh blooms and preserve a tidy appearance. Don’t be afraid to cut flowers for bouquets because doing so will encourage your sweet pea plants to grow more stems so they can bloom. If you observe little flowering following the first flush of bloom, prune severely and fertilize.
- spread through seed. Early autumn, early spring, or mid-spring are good times to sow in a cold frame.
- Slugs, snails, Pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and other leaf spots can all affect sweet peas.
- Sweet peas cannot be eaten! A sudden ingestion may result in a slight stomach ache.