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Sweet Peas

Lathyrus odoratus

Category: Flowers

The heady fragrance of sweet peas is unforgettable! Sweet peas are a hummingbird and butterfly favorite. Flowers bloom in various colors (except yellow) including red, mauve, peach, lilac, white, pink, and scarlet. Pea-like blooms in elongated clusters appear on winged stems. All parts of this plant are poisonous. Use with caution around children and pets. Do not plant near edible peas (Pisum sativum).

How to Grow Sweet Peas

Quick Info

Spacing
4/Square
Depth
0.5 in
0.5 in
Sun
Part Sun to Full Sun
Water
3 in/week
Season
Cool
Frost
Semi-Tolerant
Height
3-8 ft
Germination
14-21 days
Germination Temp
55-65 °F
Sprout to Harvest
90 days
Soil pH
Slightly Basic - Basic

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Varieties

Beaujolais
Beaujolais Large, deeply colored flowers with long, sturdy stems make this an excellent choice for long-lasting bouquets.
Bouquet Blend
Bouquet Blend A colorful Spencer-type sweet pea with extra-large, ruffled, fragrant blooms on long, sturdy stems, perfect for cutting.
Early Flowering Mixed Colors
Early Flowering Mixed Colors Enjoy an abundance of fragrant, ruffled blooms in a vibrant mix of colors, flowering early for an extended period.
Early Gigantea
Early Gigantea An exceptionally early bloomer, this sweet pea yields large, fragrant, and delicately ruffled flowers.
Early Multiflora Blend
Early Multiflora Blend This sweet pea blooms exceptionally early, up to two weeks sooner than other early-flowering varieties.
Elegance Blend
Elegance Blend This long-stemmed, mildly-scented sweet pea blend provides elegant, colorful cut flowers, blooming in winter or early spring.
High Scent
High Scent This sweet pea offers an extraordinarily intense, sweet, and fresh fragrance, making it the pinnacle of scented varieties for cutting.
Jet Set Mixed Colors (Knee-Hi)
Jet Set Mixed Colors (Knee-Hi) Knee-high, semi-dwarf sweet peas offering distinctly fragrant, vibrant mixed-color blooms, ideal for varied garden uses without staking.
View all 15 varieties →

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Pests

Diseases

Beneficial Critters

Growing from Seed

Transplanting is recommended. Sow seeds in a deep cell container. Darkness is needed for germination. Pre-soaking seeds for 24 hrs will aid germination.

Planting Considerations

Sweet peas like afternoon shade and prefer a cool climate. They like consistently moist, rich, organic and well-draining soil. Sweet peas should be grown up a trellis or another structure that they can climb.

Harvesting

Pick when half the flowers on a stem are open. Vines are an attractive filler to bouquets.

Pruning

Pinch seedlings when they are 6-8" (15-20 cm) tall.

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