Royal Sweet Pea is an open-pollinated bush variety of Lathyrus odoratus celebrated for its exceptional fragrance. This compact grower reaches maturity in 90 days and produces abundant cut flowers on a plant that needs just 4 inches of spacing. With support from a trellis or fence, it transforms small gardens into fragrant displays, rewarding frequent harvesting with continuous blooms throughout the season.
—
Moderate
?-?
?in H x ?in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
The fragrance is truly exceptional, filling the air with a sweet, intoxicating scent that makes every visit to the garden a sensory experience. Royal Sweet Pea grows as a compact bush, making it far more manageable than tall heirloom varieties while still producing flowers at an impressive rate. When you harvest flowers regularly, the plant responds by producing even more blooms, turning a single planting into an endless supply of cut flowers for bouquets and arrangements.
Royal Sweet Pea shines as a cut flower for indoor arrangements, where its fragrance becomes the main event. It thrives in cottage gardens, along fences, and trained onto trellises and arbors, where its blooms can be enjoyed fresh daily. The compact bush habit makes it suitable for back borders and smaller garden spaces where traditional tall sweet peas might overwhelm the landscape.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in 72-cell flats or deep-cell seedling containers 4 to 5 weeks before your transplant date. Seeds require darkness for germination, so cover them completely. Keep soil consistently moist and cool until sprouting occurs.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last light frost. Seedlings can tolerate light frost, allowing earlier planting than many vegetables. Harden off plants gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions for a few days before permanent planting.
Direct sow 2 to 3 seeds every 6 inches, pressing them 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep into the soil. This spacing allows seedlings room to establish before thinning.
Harvest flowers when approximately half of them on each stem are open. Cut stems early in the day for maximum freshness and vase life. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more flowers, so don't be shy about taking blooms frequently throughout the season.
Pinch the main stem when plants reach 6 to 8 inches tall to encourage denser branching and more prolific flowering. This single pinch transforms a leggy plant into a compact, full bush.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.