Sweet pea

Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)

Sweet peas are beloved annual climbing plants known for their exquisite, butterfly-like blooms and intense, honey-orange fragrance. Available in a rainbow of pastel and vibrant hues, they add a romantic, vertical dimension to any garden. They are highly prized as cut flowers, filling entire rooms with their nostalgic scent.

Companion Planting:

Sweet peas grow beautifully alongside lavender, catmint, and roses. In a vegetable garden, they are often planted near pole beans or trellis-grown cucumbers to attract bees and other pollinators, which helps increase the yield of nearby crops. Avoid planting them near edible garden peas, as sweet pea seeds are toxic if ingested—keeping them separate prevents any accidental mix-ups during harvest.

Care Tips:

• Planting: Sow seeds in early spring while the weather is still cool. Soaking the seeds in water for a few hours before planting can help speed up germination.

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but well-drained. They do not like their roots to dry out completely, especially during hot spells.

• Support: As a vigorous climber, it requires a trellis, netting, or “wigwam” structure to grow. Use soft garden twine to help the young tendrils find their way up.

• Harvesting: Pick flowers frequently! The more you harvest the blooms for bouquets, the more the plant will produce. If you allow seed pods to develop, the plant will stop flowering.

Important Safety Note: Unlike garden peas, all parts of the Sweet Pea plant are toxic to humans and pets. They are grown strictly for their beauty and scent, never for food.