Lathyrus odoratus Bicolour Purple Pimpernel - Sweet Pea Seeds

The large, fragrant flowers of this Bicolour Purple Pimpernel sweet pea have a romantic, bohemian air to them. This Lathyrus odoratus combines two very delicate shades: a deep, brownish purple and a violet-pink with subtle lavender-blue undertones. The long, voluble stems of this unique variety will soon cover up neighbouring fences or trellises. They will also look stunning in summer flower bed, filling the air with their sweet scent. The butterfly-like blooms will be beautiful in hanging baskets and will make charming bouquets. This generous plant is at its best when grown in fertile, moist soil, with plenty of sunshine.

Lathyrus odoratus is an annual herbaceous plant of the Fabaceae family originating from south-eastern Italy and Sicily. Bicolour Purple Pimpernel is a climbing variety: it can reach 1.80 m in height and 30 cm in width in the space of a few months. Its quadrangular winged stems have stipules at their base, bear pairs of light-green leaflets and end in a terminal tendril. Flowering takes place from June to August. The papilionaceous flowers are large, grouped in axillary clusters; the gently ruffled petals combine two shades of purple. The flowers are composed of 5 petals: a deep brownish purple standard, 2 free wing petals, and 2 fused petals that are a lighter purple with lavender undertones. They give off a delicate, sweet fragrance, which has a floral aroma with honeyed and musky notes. The fruit is a flat pod that splits at maturity, forcibly expelling its seeds away from the plant. It is essential to regularly remove wilted flowers, as seed production stunts flowering. Sweet peas root deeply in the ground to find water and nutrients.

Sweet peas are irreplaceable, their charming and old-fashioned flowers make quaint bouquets, look stunning in hanging baskets will soon cover up an old garden wall or fence. They are beautiful in summer flower beds, where they will use neighbouring plants or shrubs as a support. They can also form colourful carpets when grown as ground cover. Sweet peas are a must-have in cottage gardens alongside peonies, hollyhocks, fox gloves, peach leaved bellflowers, and columbines. They also do well in the fertile and well-watered soil of the vegetable garden, where they can be used as cut flowers.