Plant Profile

Picture or Drawing Botanical Name: odoratus

Common Name: Sweet

FAMILY NAME: subf.

Species and of special interest: is a perennial , which can reach two or more metres by means of twining tendrils: Lathyrus latifolius (pink), ‘Alba’ (white), Lathyrus latifolius ‘Rosa Perle’ (syn. ‘Pink Pearl’, pale pink), and Lathyrus latifolius ‘White Pearl’ (white),

A pink and white pea -‘Painted Lady’.

Sweet are now divided into three main groups: - Old-fashioned varieties: bred from the Sicilian Lathyrus odoratus, which includes ‘Matucana’. It has a strong scent, with purple and deep red, bi-colour .

- Spencer cultivars: a particularly large, frilly, multi- flowered variety - ‘Countess Spencer’. Spencer Sweet Peas ranging from white, through to pink, violet, deep purple or bright red and they produce large flowers – four to five on a stem.

- Modern Grandiflora Sweet Pea: ‘Almost Black’ (incredibly dark, luscious colour with an incredible scent). These have been developed to have lots of large flowers on the long stems of the Spencer types, with the fantastic scent of ‘Matucana’.

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Origin: Italy

Availability: Late winter, spring

Foliage Characteristics: The are pinnate with two leaflets and a terminal tendril, which twines around supporting and structures helping the sweet pea to climb.

Floral Characteristics: Fragrant (with a sweet perfumed orange-jasmine-honey scent) flowers with delicate tissue- paper . Colours range from solid, crimson reds, navy blues, pastel lavenders, pinks, and the purest whites to bicolours, and streaked or flaked flowers.

Special features and characteristics of special interest: Flowering annual with fragrant perfume. Sweet peas usually grow about 1.5-2.0m tall, but there are many different kinds available, including dwarf cultivars.

Maintenance, Cultural requirements and Post Harvest Treatments: The are best if soaked for 24 hours before planting. Try them as a winter in warm climates, and a spring or early summer flower in cold or mountain districts. Sweet peas need plenty of sun (at least six hours per day). Pick the flowers regularly to encourage new blooms to develop. Post Harvest Treatments: Burn the ends of the stems with a candle or pour boiling water over the ends. Immediately put the flowers into a vase of cold water up to the necks of their stems. Floral preservatives can help extend the life of the flowers. Keep vase of flowers out of direct sunlight and drafts.

Pest and Diseases: The sweet pea can also suffer from some pests, the most common being . These insects suck the sap out of the plants, reducing growth. Mosaic virus is spread by greenfly, causing yellowing of leaves, distortion of new shoots, and inhibited flowering.

A pest called the pollen beetle which is small, shiny and black, eats the pollen and disfigures the flowers. Other pests include caterpillars, thrips, slugs and snails. Another problem is mildew; this is a white powdery coating that covers the leaves and slows down growth.

Use In Floristry: Ideal for posies and for the vase at home. It does not hold well as a wired flower as it requires a constant water source. Look light and pretty when used in hand-tied, natural stemmed bouquets. They can be wired or wire supported for use in bouquet holders with a water source. Do not use sweet peas in hot weather as it dislikes heat.

Customer advice: Carefully break open bunches as Sweet Peas tend to cling together. Recut stems, use flower preservative to help buds to open and maintain scent. Replace vase water with fresh preservative every day. Sweet Peas are very sensitive to ethylene, keep them away from fruit, car exhausts and cigarette smoke. Sweet peas prefer to be in deep water and do not like being misted.

References:

“Fresh Cut Flowers” Gregory Milner 2009 http://marketfresh.com.au/flowers/a-z-flower-search/item/1734-sweet-pea.html http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866712.htm http://gardendrum.com/2014/06/21/sweet-peas-elegant-ladies-and-a-few-gents/ http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/in-the-garden/flowering-plants- shrubs/sweet-pea/#.VCgXL_mSx5M http://www.yates.com.au/autumn/tips/autumn-is-sweet-pea-season/ http://flowersvic.com.au/blog/flower-of-the-month-sweet-pea/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_pea