General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Vine
Life cycle: Annual
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Plant Height: 3 to 8 feet
Plant Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Fruiting Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: Purple
Other: Cultivars come in colors of purple, red, pink, lavender, white and bi-color.
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Uses: Cut Flower
Will Naturalize
Dynamic Accumulator: Nitrogen fixer
Wildlife Attractant: Butterflies
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Salt tolerant
Toxicity: Fruit is poisonous
Other: Handling plant may cause contact dermatitis in some individuals.
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Conservation status: Near Threatened (NT)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Near Threatened
Image
Common names
  • Sweet Pea

Photo Gallery
Location: Blenheim New Zealand
Date: Late spring
Location: Oxfordshire, England
Date: 2017-08-25
Location: Riverside, CA
Date: 2016-02-28
First bloom of the season
Location: Huron County, MI
Date: 2020-07-04
naturalized
Photo by JulieB
Location: At a local nursery 
Date: 2023-06-13
Photo by sedumzz

Date: c. 1912
illustration of 6 Spencer Sweet Peas from the 1912 catalog, Burpe

Date: c. 1914
illustration of 8 Spencer Sweet Peas from the 1914 catalog, Burpe

Date: c. 1912
illustration by R. Gauger of Spencer Sweet Peas 'Vermilion Brilli
Location: Huron County, MI
Date: 2020-07-04
naturalized
Location: La Crescenta, CA
Date: 2021-04-03
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Date: 2021-03-06
Seeds of Lathyrus Odoratus colour mix bought in the local shop.

Date: c. 1910
illustration of Spencer Sweet Peas 'Miriam Beaver' (left) & 'Mari

Date: c. 1916
illustration from the 1916 catalog, Burpee's, Philadelphia, Penns

Date: c. 1914
illustration of 4 Spencer Sweet Peas from the 1914 catalog, Burpe

Date: c. 1905
illustration from the 1905 catalog, Burpee's, Philadelphia, Penns
Location: At a local nursery 
Date: 2023-06-13
Location: At a local nursery 
Date: 2023-06-13

Date: c. 1907
illustration by A. Lunzer of 3 new Spencer Sweet Peas from the 19
Location: My garden zone 8
Date: 2021-07-20
Direct sown
Location: Riverside, CA
Date: 2016-03-06
Location: Huron County, MI
Date: 2020-07-04
naturalized

Date: c.1908
illustration by A. Lunzer of 3 new Sweet Peas from the 1908 catal
Photo by sedumzz
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-03-21
Plant Events from our members
piksihk On February 9, 2018 Seeds sown
WG 2013 seeds frt bed
piksihk On February 2, 2018 Seeds sown
Old seeds 2013; Doreen K. Unknown color
piksihk On June 21, 2014 Bloomed
one dk purple bloom
MrsBinWY On May 1, 2021 Transplanted
Planted 2 pots of 3 seedlings each in rose hugel
MrsBinWY On March 29, 2021 Seeds germinated
4
MrsBinWY On March 20, 2021 Seeds sown
2 pots w/3 seeds each from ishareflowers (from GeoSeeds for 2021) - soak 24 hours and germinate in sunroom
paleohunter On April 15, 2022 Bloomed
paleohunter On October 24, 2021 Seeds sown
dnrevel From April 28, 2022 to May 5, 2022 Seeds germinated
Aided by heat mats
dnrevel On February 4, 2022 Seeds sown
WInter Sown in red cups in a new 2nd tote and 1 WS jug.
LyraLu On March 1, 2022 Transplanted
same size pot but replaced seed starting mix with more potting soil
LyraLu On February 22, 2022 Miscellaneous Event
moved from heat mat. under light 13 hours.
LyraLu On February 19, 2022 Seeds germinated
50% germination rate
LyraLu On February 12, 2022 Seeds sown
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
ID question by janinilulu Oct 25, 2020 8:11 AM 1
Yellow Sweet Peas by cmossx Dec 4, 2022 4:14 PM 0

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