Sweet Pea
Lathyrus odoratus
Family: Fabaceae · Also called Lathyrus, Everlasting Pea, Lathyrus odoratus var. zeylanicus, Lathyrus odoratus var. roseovittata, Lathyrus odoratus var. carneus
Floral · Spring–Summer bloomer
The sweet pea is the very definition of cottage garden romance. Its butterfly-like flowers, borne on delicate climbing vines, flutter in the breeze in an watercolor palette of pastels, from white through blush, lavender, coral, to deep burgundy. The fragrance, which gives the plant its name, is one of the most cherished in horticulture.
blissful pleasure, departure, gratitude, delicate joy
In the Victorian language of flowers, sweet pea means “Blissful pleasure and a thank-you for a lovely time”. The sweet pea is the birth flower of April in some traditions. Henry Eckford, a Scottish nurseryman, transformed the sweet pea from a modest wildflower into a garden sensation in the 1880s. It became the Edwardian era's most fashionable flower. Today, the Sweet Pea Society in Birmingham hosts an annual show dating back to 1901.
Did You Know?
The original wild sweet pea from Sicily was a modest purple and maroon flower. By selective breeding, it has been transformed into over 1,000 varieties. Gregor Mendel's groundbreaking genetics experiments were partly conducted using sweet peas.
Rocky hillsides and coastal cliffs of Sicily and southern Italy
Sweet Pea is native to Southern Italy, Sicily. It naturally grows in rocky hillsides and coastal cliffs of sicily and southern italy.
Scent Profile
“A honeyed, rose-like sweetness with orange blossom and green undertones, delicate yet tenacious, the essence of an English cottage garden.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameLathyrus odoratus
- FamilyFabaceae
- Native ToSouthern Italy, Sicily
- Bloom SeasonSpring–Summer
- LifespanAnnual
Cultural Significance
The sweet pea is the birth flower of April in some traditions. Henry Eckford, a Scottish nurseryman, transformed the sweet pea from a modest wildflower into a garden sensation in the 1880s. It became the Edwardian era's most fashionable flower. Today, the Sweet Pea Society in Birmingham hosts an annual show dating back to 1901.