General Description/History

Of the over 160 species of Lathyrus, only the Sweet Pea has the combination of colour and fragrance that we expect from this long time favourite. Breeding has added stem length and several colours, from purple to blue to pink, white to cream, and red to dark crimson. Some are bi-coloured, speckled or striped. Sweet Pea flowers grow on vines that can reach over 2 m in height. In southern Australia seeds are planted in March, traditionally on St Patrick’s Day and flowering will start in late winter. There are 1 to 5 flowers per stem, and each flower is made up of a large, broad top petal and two lower petals.

Sweet Peas have one of the loveliest scents of any cut flower. It is grown in polyhouses. Supplies come mostly from Victoria, Qld and NSW.

Language: ‘shyness’

What to look for

• Buy when the top buds are fully coloured and partly open;
• Choose bunches with a strong scent;
• Avoid bunches with yellow leaves, or those with flowers that drop when bunches are shaken.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Carefully break open bunches – Sweet Peas tend to cling together.
3. Strip leaves from the lower half of each stem, and wash stem ends under the tap.
4. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem and place in water immediately.
5. Always use a preservative as this will help buds to open and maintain scent.
6. Replace vase water with fresh preservative every day.
7. Sweet Peas are very sensitive to ethylene. Keep them away from fruit, car exhausts and cigarette smoke.

Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus

Common Names: Sweet Pea

Stem Length: 30 to 60 cm

Country of Origin: Italy

Available Colours: Blue, Cream, Pink, Purple, Red, White

Season: Summer,Winter,Spring

Availability: June,July,August,September,October,November,Decemeber