Lathyrus odoratus 'King Size Formula Mixture'

Lathyrus odoratus 'King Size Formula Mixture' is a colourful mix of Sweet Peas from the 'King Size' series, with large undulating and fragrant flowers. This selection includes shades of pink, mauve, white, red, violet, blue, and mauve. A climbing or creeping annual plant, sweet peas quickly cover a large area. By regularly removing the pods that form after the flowers, it will generously bloom throughout the summer. 'King Size Formula Mixture' offers a high-colour mix that is easy to sow and cultivate in sunny, fertile, and moist soil.

Lathyrus odoratus 'King Size Formula Mixture' is an annual herbaceous plant from the Fabaceae family, whose ancestors originate from southeastern Italy and Sicily. With its tendrils, it can climb or creep up to 2.50m (8ft) in height and 30cm (12in) in width in just a few months. This mix of several varieties includes shades of pink, mauve, white, red, violet, blue, and mauve. The leaves are paired on quadrangular stems, with stipules at the base and extended into tendrils. Their colour is a light green, more or less greyish or bluish. Flowering takes place from June-July to August-September, depending on the sowing date. The papilionaceous flowers are large to very large, grouped in axillary clusters. They consist of 5 petals that are more or less fringed, with the uppermost, also the largest, taking the form of a banner, while the others have an intermediate shape between the lip and the tube. They emit a powerful yet delicate fragrance, with a sweet floral aroma and hints of honey and musk, very feminine. The fruit is a flat pod that twists and expels its seeds at a distance. It is essential to remove faded flowers, as seed production immediately stops flowering. Sweet peas root deeply in the soil to draw water and nutrients. They thrive in warmth and prefer rich, loose, and moist soil.

The sweet peas are annuals that are essential for a charming and abundant flowering. They quickly cover any available support, such as a wire fence or a garden shed, in just one season. On the ground, when mixed with different varieties, they create beautiful colourful carpets. They are equally charming in summer borders, using neighbouring plants or bushes as support. In a cottage garden or vegetable plot, where they appreciate fertile and well-watered soil, they accompany columbines, hollyhocks, or foxgloves. They make splendid bouquets.