Sweet Pea Flower: An Old-Fashioned Favorite
There might be no cuter flower than the sweet pea. Beloved for hundreds of years, this colorful and fragrant flower is a favorite to plant around country cottages, and it works well in any informal…or formal, for that matter…garden. You generally see the sweet pea staked up or climbing up some type of trellis, but they can also be planted directly into the ground or placed in containers, where the gorgeous leaves and blooms cascade over the sides.
Many of us have great memories of the gardens from our childhood, such as at our grandmother’s house, and it is a good bet that her garden had some sweet pea flowers. These flowers are extremely easy to grow, and their beautiful blooms last for the entire season.
Are you thinking about adding sweet peas to your garden? Do you simple want to learn more about the sweet pea flower? Here, we share the following:
- What are sweet pea flowers?
- Sweet pea information
- Landscaping with the sweet pea
- Growing sweet peas
- Sweet pea varieties
- Pests and disease
What are Sweet Pea Flowers?
The sweet pea is a climbing plant that produces clusters of beautiful flowers in a range of colors including lavender, red, white, pink, and blue. They first appear during the early days of summer, and they tend to last in bloom for many weeks. They are commonly cut and placed into vases, or they appear in arrangements.
There are many varieties of sweet pea, and the old-fashioned varieties, which often bring up nostalgic thoughts, are known for their intoxicating fragrance and intense colors. There are many companies out there offering sweet peas in every color of the rainbow, except yellow, but keep in mind that not all of the varieties produce a fragrance. When fully grown, these vines can stretch up to 8 feet in length.
Though the name of these flowers sound like they might be delicious, take note: they are toxic, and could make humans and animals very sick if eaten.
Sweet Pea Information
The sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, is and annual plant, and it is part of the legume genus, like a bean. These flowers first came from Italy and Mediterranean islands, and they have been a staple of gardens since the 17th century. The modern sweet peas that we see today are probably derived from the work of Henry Eckford, a nurseryman from Scotland, who made it his mission to develop new varieties of the sweet pea in the late 1800s.
Landscaping with the Sweet Pea
As mentioned, you often see these plants around country cottages, along fences, or in pots, where they cascade over the sides. You can also grow these on wood or bamboo tripods or any other type of trellis. Many people also use the sweet pea in their vegetable gardens, as they attract bees, which help to pollinate their vegetable plants. If you do this, plant them along a fence or mixed with other legumes, like the pole bean. Of course, you can also grow them directly in the ground, just realize that they will grow out and up into a big, flowery clump.
Growing Sweet Peas
You can grow the sweet pea in all USDA hardiness zones, but they really thrive in areas that have cooler summers. They need full sun, but if you live in a warm climate, such as in the southern US, you should plant them in a place where there is partial sun, especially during the heat of the summer day. Some people in the South even plant sweet peas in the fall, and then allow them to bloom over the winter.
When you plant the sweet pea flower, you should make sure that it is placed in well-drained soil. It also likes a soil pH of about 7.5. You should directly sow these seed, but before placing them into the ground, you should make sure to soak them in water to soften the seed coating or nick it with a sharp object. This helps to assist in the germination of the seed. As soon as the ground has warmed to around 50 degrees F, you can plant.
Of course, you can also start your sweet pea seeds indoors about four to five weeks before the typical last frost of the season. Then, you can simply transplant them. To make the job easier, you should start the seeds in peat. Any flowers or buds that have formed before this should be pinched before transplanting them. This helps to encourage the development of the roots. The sweet pea seedling likes cool soil…not too hot and not too cold, so you can also mulch to help them thrive.
You can also pinch the seedlings when they are about 3 to 6 inches tall, which encourages them to grow side shoots. These will grow tendrils, which allow the sweet pea to attach to support structures.
Throughout the growing season, you should feed and water your sweet pea flowers with regularity. You can feed them each month with a high-potassium fertilizer, such as those you might use for tomatoes.
Most varieties of sweet pea begin to bloom in the late spring or early summer, and the more you cut off, the more the plant produces. So, don’t fret about cutting them for bouquets or décor. You can also deadhead any spent blooms, which encourages the plant to keep producing flowers. Finally, you should plant your sweet peas in different locations each year as to ensure they get enough nutrients.
Sweet Pea Varieties
There are many sweet pea flower varieties out there. You can buy them in seed packets, which might come in a single color or in multiple colors. Also, remember that not all of them have a fragrance, so read the package to make sure you get what you want. Here are some that we recommend:
Old Fashioned – Any sweet pea flower with the name “old fashioned” has a beautiful fragrance.
Bijou Group – This is a dwarf sweet pes perfect for containers, and it smells wonderful.
Spencer – These hardy sweet peas aren’t especially fragrant, but they are very bright and colorful.
Pests and Disease
Finally, there are some pests and disease information you should be aware of when growing sweet peas. First, they attract rabbits and groundhogs, so you might want to spray repellent when planting them. You should also look out for aphids, leaf miners, and thrips. These insects can also bring disease, which can kill off your plants.
