Dating from the 1900s, The Spencer Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are still among the most popular and widely grown Sweet Peas. Renowned for their fabulous perfume, large flowers, and exhibition-quality blooms, they bloom in a wide array of enchanting colors.
What is the best sweet pea variety?
Most Fragrant Sweet Peas
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Flora Norton’ (Sweet Pea)
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Gwendoline’ (Sweet Pea)
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Lady Grisel Hamilton’ (Sweet Pea)
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’ (Sweet Pea)
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Mollie Rilstone’ (Sweet Pea)
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Painted Lady’ (Sweet Pea)
What are the variety of sweet peas?
Classification of Sweet Pea Types
- Spencer Sweet Peas. The classic sweet pea descended from the sport of Henry Eckford’s Prima Donna which was named Countess Spencer.
- Grandiflora.
- Royal.
- Early Mulitflora Giganteas.
- Cuthbertson.
- Hammett Bi-colors and Shifters.
- Dwarfs.
- Semi-Dwarfs or Intermediates.
What are the most fragrant sweet pea varieties?
Six of the best scented sweet peas
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Linda Carole’ Launched by Derek Heathcote who has produced some fine varieties since he started his business in 1992.
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Our Harry.
- Sweet Pea ‘Valerie Harrod.
- Grandiflora Sweet Peas.
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.
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.
What are the best sweet pea seeds to buy?
Sweet peas are the classic annual climber and look just as lovely in pots as they do in a border. ‘Spencer Mix’ has large flowers and long stems, good for cutting, but ‘Cupani’ and ‘Painted Lady’ are particularly good as their short stems give good coverage of the support and they’re extremely fragrant.
Which sweet peas have the longest stems?
Lathyrus odoratus, ‘Mammoth Crimson’
Mammoth Sweet Peas belongs to a type of sweet pea called an ‘Early Multiflora Gigantea’. Marked by the longest stems, and large fragrant blooms, they are very popular with commercial cut flower growers.
Do sweet peas come back every year?
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) only live for a year, dying after setting seed. But don’t let this put you off as they are super easy to grow from seed. Perennial species such as Lathyrus latifolius come back year after year, but mostly lack fragrance and there are fewer to choose from.
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.
Do everlasting 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. Use climbing types on fences, through shrubs or hedges or on a bank.
Do sweet peas cross pollinate?
Do sweet peas cross pollinate? Sweet peas are self-pollinating – they fertilize themselves whilst the flower buds are still young and haven’t opened.
What are the easiest peas to grow?
Some good varieties to try are:
- ‘Sugar Ann’: vines grow only 2 feet tall, no support required.
- ‘Sugar Snap’: The original (Calvin’s) just brought back.
- ‘Early Snap’: An early-maturing version produces peas 10 to 14 days earlier than ‘Sugar Snap’
- ‘Super Sugar Mel’: produces 4-inch-long, very sweet pods.
What are grandiflora sweet peas?
The more recent, modern grandiflora varieties combine the strong fragrance and colourful blooms of the original, heirloom grandifloras with the large flowers and long, straight stems of Spencer-type sweet peas. They make wonderful, exuberant cut flowers for the house. Related content: Sweet peas – Grow Guide.
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.
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.
What does Bath and Body Works sweet pea smell like?
Sweet Pea from Bath & Body Works
A super-cheerful blend of sweet pea, watery pear and luscious raspberry, Sweet Pea is a perfect-for-anytime (or any place) fragrance. In fact, it’s been a fan favorite for decades.
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.
Are English peas and sweet peas the same?
Garden peas are sometimes called sweet peas or English peas. The pods are firm and rounded, but you must shell them, remove the peas inside, then discard the pods before eating. The peas are sweet and may be eaten raw or cooked; these are the peas you typically see canned or in the freezer section.
Are all peas sweet peas?
Sweet peas and green peas may look similar, but they are two different types of plants. Sweet peas are a type of flowering plant that is often grown for ornamental purposes. Green peas, on the other hand, are a type of legume that is typically eaten as a vegetable.