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How to Grow and Care for Sweet pea

Sweet pea, also known as Annual sweet pea, Garden sweet pea, Common sweet pea, Everlasting pea, Perennial sweet pea

Sweet pea are known for being relatively easy to grow, with a few special care points to ensure healthy blooming. They require a position with full sun to partial shade and well-drained, fertile soil. A critical care aspect is providing adequate support, such as trellises or netting, for their climbing habit. Additionally, regular deadheading promotes continuous flowering throughout the season. Watering should be consistent, but overwatering must be avoided to prevent root rot.

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Watering schedule: Every week

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Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

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Toxic to Humans

In This Article

Planting and Growing Sweet pea

ToughnessHigh
Care LevelLow
Care DifficultyEasy
LifespanAnnual, Perennial, Biennial
Watering ScheduleEvery week
Sunlight RequirementsFull sun
Soil TypeGarden Soil
Soil pH6-7.5
Planting TimeSpring
Hardiness Zones
2-11
ToxicityToxic to Humans
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Varieties of Sweet pea
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Sweet pea 'Painted Lady'

The sweet pea 'Painted Lady' boasts striking bicolored blooms, with a palette of deep pinks and soft whites reminiscent of antiqued frescoes. These fragrant flowers cluster on winged stems, inviting a dance of pollinators to its sweet-scented ballroom. As a climber, sweet pea 'Painted Lady' gracefully adorns trellises and fences, orchestrating a vertical spectacle of color in temperate gardens. Its enchanting presence is a nod to the harmonious balance between ornamental charm and the lure for biodiversity.

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Sweet pea 'Black Knight'

Sweet pea 'Black Knight' is admired for its dark-colored blooms; it's considered one of the darkest varieties in the sweet pea family. The ancestral plant is Laythrus odoratus, the sweet pea, but the exact parentage of sweet pea 'Black Knight' is unknown. When it comes to the name "Black Knight," the deep purple flowers speak for themselves.

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Sweet pea 'White Supreme'

The sweet pea 'White Supreme' is a pure white cultivar of the sweet pea plant, recognizable by its striking, delicate flowers and hardiness. This plant grows strong, climbing with its tendrils. Its flowers are more sweetly fragrant, with a strong aroma. Be aware that if ingested, this plant can cause some stomach discomfort.

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Sweet pea 'Cupani'

Most sweet peas have purple flowers in their natural form, but sweet pea 'Cupani' is a showy plant with deep-violet blooms. This hybrid was found in 1692 in the wild by a Sicilian monk called Father Francis Cupani. This plant grows well in the garden, and with its long blooming period from spring through fall, it naturally attracts bees and butterflies.

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Sweet pea 'Patio Mixed'

Sweet pea 'Patio Mixed' is a climbing annual with grey-green leaves. In summer it creates a "mixed" show of red, pink, blue, and/or white flowers. It is a cultivar of the common Sweet Pea flower that has been cultivated since the 17th century. This plant is ideal for edging, bedding and looks fabulous in window boxes. The decorative flowers have a delicate fragrance.

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The Toxicity of Sweet pea

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More General Info About Sweet pea

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Sweet pea is characterized by its showy and fragrant flowers which bloom in a range of colors, often presenting a bi-color pattern. This climbing or bushy annual typically reaches heights of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) and thrives in full sun to partial shade. It sports pinnate leaves with narrow, oblong leaflets and wings on the sides of its stems. Flowers are borne in clusters, and the plant produces distinctive seed pods. Regular deadheading can encourage continued blooming.
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