Lady Grisel Hamilton is a classic heirloom sweet pea that has enchanted gardeners for generations with its delicate, fragrant blooms. This tall climber reaches 6 feet when given support, producing abundant flowers from spring through summer over 84 days from seed to first bloom. The flowers attract pollinators and deer ignore them entirely, making this an elegant choice for trellises, arbors, or cutting gardens in full sun with moderate water.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
72in H x 8in W
—
High
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This heirloom variety carries a lineage of refinement; it was named after a woman of distinction and has been passed through gardening circles for over a century. The plants climb vigorously to 6 feet tall on delicate tendrils, producing flowers continuously from March through August when sown at the right time. Sweet peas reward regular harvesting and deadheading with an astonishing abundance of blooms, and their fragrance is one of the most prized in the cutting garden.
Sweet peas are grown primarily as ornamental cutting flowers, prized for their delicate, ruffled petals and extraordinary fragrance. Fresh bouquets last well in water and are traditional gifts and wedding flowers. Gardeners grow Lady Grisel Hamilton specifically for arrangements, cottage gardens, and to attract pollinators to the landscape.
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Sow seeds in deep pots 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost. Keep the soil at 55 to 65°F until germination, which typically occurs within 5 to 30 days. Once seedlings emerge and before the first true leaves unfurl, move pots to cool outdoor conditions to harden them off gradually.
Transplant hardened seedlings outside 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost. Space them 6 inches apart in prepared soil enriched with compost and aged manure.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost for best results.
Cut flowers for arrangements as soon as they open, ideally in the early morning when stems are most turgid. Harvest regularly to encourage the plant to produce more blooms; flowers left on the plant will mature into seed pods, signaling the plant to slow production. Cut stems with at least two or three sets of leaves remaining on the plant to maintain vigor.
Pinch out the growing tips when seedlings are young to encourage bushier, more branched growth and increased flower production. Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the season to extend blooming and prevent the plant from setting seed; this vigorous cultivar will reward consistent deadheading with weeks of continuous new blooms.
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“Lady Grisel Hamilton belongs to the rich Victorian heritage of sweet pea breeding, a period when these flowers captivated gardeners across Europe and America. Named after a woman of prominence, this cultivar represents the golden age of sweet pea development when breeders competed to create larger, more fragrant, and more abundant varieties. It has persisted through generations of home gardeners who valued both its beauty and its generous productivity, making it a true heirloom preserved through cultivation rather than corporate seed catalogs.”