Much underrated, perennial sweet peas like Lathyrus latifolius and Lathyrus rotundifolius are tough, easy-to-grow plants. Though they lack the scent of the annual types, they’re brilliant for pollinating insects and have colourful flowers that will return year after year.
Which sweet peas are the most fragrant?
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’
An old fashioned variety that has been around for hundreds of years. It is perhaps the most famous of the really fragrant sweet peas.
What does sweet pea smell like?
Sweet peas fragrance is sensuous, a captivating blend of honey and orange blossom, with an intensity that varies from one cultivar to another. The ruffled blooms look like little butterflies all aflutter.
Is a sweet pea a fragrant flower?
We’ve been enamored by antique varieties of sweet peas since we first grew flowers, for their scented blooms set the gold standard for sweet pea fragrance.
Is there a perennial sweet pea?
The perennial sweet pea blooms from June through late September producing great masses of scentless blossoms. Its flowers are impressively showy in shades of white, pinkish purple and rose. Even though the blossoms are not fragrant, they are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators.
Are all sweet peas scented?
Many sweet peas are fragrant, but certain cultivars have a particularly intense, rich perfume. Traditionally, it’s the heirloom Grandiflora-type sweet peas that have been grown for fragrance, but don’t discount the Spencer and modern Grandiflora-types.
Are there different types of sweet peas?
The easy way to decide which to buy is to select the type of sweet pea you want: Spencers (which are loved by florists for their big flowers and long stems), Old-fashioned forms (which boast charm, flower power, weather resilience, and incredible scent, but have short stems), or Grandifloras (which have a mix of
How long do sweet pea flowers last?
4 to 5 days
Sweet peas are a short-lived cut flower, lasting at best 4 to 5 days in a vase. Adding sugar or flower preservative to the water makes a big difference and will add a few extra days. Please note that unlike garden peas, sweet pea seeds are poisonous if ingested.
What does pink sweet pea smell like?
A very girly pink scent. A fresh, sweet floral that’s also quite fruity (PEAR).
What does sweet pea and jasmine smell like?
A delightful, heady floral fragrance combining hypnotic white jasmine and sweet pea coupled with delicate notes of ylang and musk. A combination of musk, woods and balsam round out the composition giving fullness and longevity.
Why are they called sweet peas?
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) derive their name from the Greek lathyros for pea or pulse, and the Latin odoratus, meaning fragrant.
Can you eat sweet peas?
Sweet peas will keep flowering if you pick the flowers regularly – a good excuse to have some beautiful flowers in your home. Remember- sweet pea seed pods look similar to edible pea pods but they are poisonous and must not be eaten.
When can you plant sweet peas outside?
You can plant your young sweet pea plants directly outside from March–May. Sweet pea seeds sown in autumn or winter will need to be potted on into larger pots before planting out. Those sown in spring can be planted out from their rootrainers.
Are perennial sweet peas invasive?
Annual or Perennial
In many areas of North America, the perennial sweet pea (L. latifolius) is an invasive problem, clogging open fields and roadsides. It looks pretty until you realize it’s crowding out other plants and acting like a thug.
Can you take cuttings from perennial sweet pea?
Sweet pea cuttings can be taken from young sweet pea seedlings. If you only have a few plants of a variety and want more but have run out of seed, then it is relatively easy to take cuttings and get them to root and grow.
Can perennial sweet peas be grown in pots?
Sweet Peas can be very successfully grown in containers providing a few basic rules are observed. These are; The container needs to be sufficient volume for the number of plants with a minimum size of 20 litres. Sweet Peas have a large root system and can easily become pot bound.
Are Spencer sweet peas scented?
Spencer Sweet Peas have very large frilly flowers and long stems make these extremely popular for cutting and for exhibition, as well as for garden decoration. All are scented and are summer flowering.
What are the best peas to plant?
Six of the best peas to grow
- Pea ‘Avola’ ‘Avola’ is hardy first early pea.
- Pea ‘Canoe’ ‘Canoe’ is a maincrop pea that bears long, slightly curved and pointed pods containing up to up 12 peas, on almost leafless stems, making for easy picking.
- Pea ‘Kelvedon Wonder’
- Pea ‘Hurst Green Shaft’
What is the best variety of sweet peas to grow?
Cupani, America and Painted Lady are all great examples of this group. While beautiful, they really make better garden plants than cut flowers for market.
What is the sweetest pea?
Snap peas are also known as sugar snap peas, and are a cross between snow peas and garden peas. The whole pod is eaten and has a crunchy texture and very sweet flavor.
Are all sweet peas the same?
Sweet Peas Aren’t Actually Edible!
The sweet pea isn’t a pea at all—in fact, the seeds of the sweet pea plant are toxic and not edible! However, regular, garden-variety peas are sometimes informally called sweet peas, so that is where the confusion stems from.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.