Lathyrus odoratus Spring Sunshine Scarlet Seeds - Sweet Pea

The Sweet Pea or Lathyrus odoratus Spring Sunshine™ 'Scarlet' is part of a range called Spring Sunshine which offers heat-resistant varieties, suitable for Mediterranean climates and greenhouse or conservatory cultivation. The flowers are fragrant, the plants are vigorous and highly floriferous, with long stems. They make excellent cut flowers. The 'Scarlet' variety is a large climbing annual plant with abundant flowering in a vibrant scarlet red, rare among sweet peas. The fast-growing, sturdy stems develop tendrils that will attach themselves to the support you provide.

Lathyrus odoratus is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Fabaceae family, native to southeastern Italy and Sicily. The Spring Sunshine Scarlet variety stands out for its top-of-the-line performance for very early flowering. It can reach 2m in height and 40cm in width in just a few months. Its light green leaves are paired on quadrangular stems, equipped with stipules at the base and extended into tendrils. Flowering takes place between April and June. The pea-like flowers are large, grouped in axillary clusters, bright vibrant red, rare among sweet peas, with slightly wavy petals. They are formed by 5 petals, with the upper one, which is also the largest, taking the shape of a banner, while the others have a shape intermediate between the lip and the tube. They emit a delicate fragrance, with a sweet, feminine, floral aroma with hints of honey and musk. The fruit is a flat pod that twists and expels its seeds far. 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.

Sweet peas thrive in warm and sunny locations, in well-drained, even rocky soils. Their old-fashioned flowering brings charm to bouquets, hanging baskets, and any support they will cover in a season. They are just as charming wandering in flower beds, using neighbouring plants or shrubs as support. Combine them with coreopsis, echinaceas, gauras, and annuals like poppies or cosmos. They can also create stunning carpets, mixing the colours of several varieties. They are essential in cottage gardens and also thrive in the fertile, well-watered soil of the vegetable or a cutting garden, where they provide a good supply of cut flowers.