Spencer Sweet Peas The classic sweet pea descended from the sport of Henry Eckford’s Prima Donna which was named Countess Spencer. The Spencers have a wonderful color range, long stems, varying degrees of perfume and are the most highly prized by the exhibitor’s of the flower. They usually have four blooms per stem.
What is the best variety of sweet pea?
The best scented sweet peas
- Lathyrus ‘Albutt Blue’
- Lathyrus ‘America’
- Lathyrus ‘Matucana’
- Lathyrus ‘Erewhon’
- Lathyrus ‘Karen Louise’
- Lathyrus ‘Janet Scott’
- Lathyrus ‘Black Knight’
- Lathyrus ‘Bramdean’
What is the most fragrant sweet pea variety?
Said to be the most powerfully scented sweet pea available, ‘Matucana’ has small, but powerfully scented bi-coloured flowers. Not to be confused with the very similar (and equally fragrant) variety ‘Cupani’.
What are old fashioned sweet peas?
The term ‘Old-Fashioned’ refers to the sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, which came to this country from Sicily in 1699 and was developed and remarkably improved in the latter part of the last century. This group is sometimes termed grandifloras. The seed was sent by a Catholic priest, Franciscus Cupani, to Dr.
How many varieties of sweet pea are there?
Get to know more about the sweet peas, the garden flowers with eye-catching multicolored varieties and stunning fragrance. Sweet peas have 110 species and belong to the pea-flower subfamily of the Fabaceae family.
Do Spencer sweet peas have scent?
No scent in the world compares with the perfume that rushes from the petals of a pre-Spencer sweet pea. Folks have likened it to the essence of a freshly opened beehive and have never found a synthetic substitute.
How long do sweet pea plants last?
one year
Sweet peas are a summer flowering annual. This means that they germinate, grow, flower, set seed and die all in one year and have to be re-grown each year.
Why are my sweet peas not fragrant?
A: Sweet pea fragrance varies among the varieties. Some of the modern hybrids aren’t as fragrant as the older and Spencer varieties. Rain, high temperatures, time of day and the age of the flower also influence the fragrance.
What are the sweetest garden peas?
The Dwarf Grey Sugar Pea Flower
Edible pod peas are very, very sweet. They are a great way to introduce children to vegetable gardening because often the pea pods are so sweet that they rival candy and can be eaten fresh off the vine.
How do you get long stems on sweet peas?
Tie your sweet peas into their vertical frames so they don’t waste energy holding themselves upright. Water them well so they don’t become stressed in a drought. You can also pinch out all the curly stems and tendrils, allowing the energy to go into growing longer stems and flowers.
Are sweet peas self pollinating?
Sweet peas are self-pollinating – they fertilize themselves whilst the flower buds are still young and haven’t opened.
Who discovered sweet peas?
Horticultural development
Scottish nurseryman Henry Eckford (1823–1905) cross-bred and developed the sweet pea, turning it from a rather insignificant if sweetly scented flower into a floral sensation of the 19th century.
Do sweet peas grow again next year?
If you plan to grow sweet peas in the same garden spot again next year, you don’t have to go to the trouble of saving seeds. As the seed pods dry, they pop open and drop their seeds to the ground. Next year’s flowers will grow from these seeds.
Which sweet peas have long stems?
- ‘White Supreme’ is a vigorous variety with long stems and good fragrance.
- ‘Erewhon’ is a striking cultivar with bicolour flowers and a delicious scent.
- ‘Mollie Rilstone’ has pretty picotee flowers that are white blushed with pink.
Do perennial sweet peas smell?
Perennial or everlasting peas lack the fragrance of the annual form, but share the same colourful flowers and return each year, dying back below ground in winter.
How tall do Spencer sweet peas grow?
4-6 ft. tall
Grows up to 4-6 ft. tall (120-180 cm) and 18 in. wide (45 cm). Sweet Peas love full sun or light shade in rich, humusy, medium moisture, well-draining soils.
How often cut sweet peas?
Cut sweet pea flowers right after they open completely, or when they have at least two unopened flowers at the very tip, recommends Floret Flowers. The best time of day to cut is early in the morning, before sun and wind have a chance to dry the flowers, or late in the evening after they are rehydrated.
Do sweet pea flowers smell good?
Today, sweet pea is widely regarded as one of the best smelling flowers. The Sweet Pea was a popular plant in the late-Victorian period, where it was coveted for its diversity of color and fragrance. The best time to gather sweet pea flowers is in the morning when they are covered in dew– this will enhance their scent.
Does cutting sweet peas make them flower more?
As the flowers open keep cutting; this stimulates further flower production. Never leave seeds to develop on the plants. Remember that sweet peas are annuals.
Do I deadhead sweet peas?
Sweet peas are easy to grow in any fertile soil that drains easily, in full sun. Feed weekly or fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser and ensure a regular supply of flowers by picking or deadheading.
What month do sweet peas flower?
One of the never ending discussions in gardening is whether to sow sweet pea seed in autumn or wait until the spring. The point of autumn sowing is that it gives plants a head start, so you should have a strong plant by March, which delivers earlier flowers than a spring-sown pea.