Species sweet pea
whitish-purple flower with purple veins with green stem

sweet pea

Lathyrus odoratus

The sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is a popular garden flower. It is an annual plant with woody stems and fragrant flowers. Sweet peas have a multitude of colors, from delicate white to vibrant purples and pinks. Its papery petals are arranged in a fan around a central pistil with a large number of stamens. Sweet peas generally require full sunlight and will bloom in spring and summer. The plant can reach up to five feet in height, making it a great addition to a flower bed or garden border. Its flowers are beloved for their unique beauty and sweet aroma.

Cycle:

Annual

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

2 - 11

Flowers:

Cultivars in all colors except yellow Flowers In Summer

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

green,brown,black Fruits Ready In Summer

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Poisonous To Humans:

Yes

Poisonous To Pets:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Sweet peas require regular watering in order to stay healthy and bloom. Water your sweet peas thoroughly once a week when the soil is dry, taking care not to overwater or saturate the soil. In hot and dry climates, it may be necessary to water them more often. Adding a layer of mulch can help to retain moisture.

sunlight

Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) plants need full sunlight in order to flourish. The best times for sunlight for sweet peas are between 8 AM and 6 PM. Sweet peas require approximately 8 hours of direct sunlight every day during the warmer and sunnier months in order to produce a good crop of flowers. In areas that receive high levels of sunlight, sweet peas should be given filtered light or partial shade during the hottest part of the day to prevent the plant from becoming sunburned.

pruning

Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) should be pruned as soon as the flowering season is over, usually in late summer. There are 2 types of sweet pea pruning- light pruning and hard pruning. Light pruning is pruning back the tendrils up to 3 inches of the main stem. This is done to maintain the overall shape of the plant and encourage new growth. Hard pruning is done in late fall or early spring and involves cutting back the stems to 5 or 6 inches above the ground. This is done to remove any weak or dead stems and to encourage new growth. Some varieties of sweet pea can also benefit from a mid-season prune where up to half of the stems can be cut back, usually done in mid-summer. This helps to encourage better flowering in the following season.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Sweet peas typically start flowering in April or May.

Harvest Fruit

Harvesting of sweet pea fruits typically begins in July and continues through August.

Hardiness Map