Lathyrus Or Sweet Pea Flowers

Lathyrus Or Sweet Pea Flowers Uk

Name : Lathyrus or Sweet Pea Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Lathyrus, (Lathyrus odoratus).
Lathyrus or Sweet Pea Description

'Here are Sweet Peas on tiptoe for a flight,
With wings of gentle flush o'er delicate white,
And taper fingers catching at all things
To bind them all about with tiny rings'

- John Keats

Lathyrus odoratus or the Sweet pea is a flowering plant in the genus Lathyrus with 110 species and numerous cultivars in the family Fabaceae (Legumes). Lathyrus is native to the eastern Mediterranean region from Sicily east to Crete.

Other common names for the Lathyrus genus are Vetchling or Wild Pea whereas Sweet Peas are known as the Queen of Annuals in Britain.This enchanting flower was first named Sweet Pea by the famous poet John Keats.

Sweet peas date back to 17th century Italy, when Franciscus Cupani, a Sicilian monk, sent Lathyrus seeds to England. That original sweet pea variety was fragrant but didn’t gain much popularity until Henry Eckford (died 1906), a nurseryman of Scottish descent, cross-bred and developed the modern sweet pea, turning it into the floral sensation of the late Victorian era. Eckford developed numerous cultivars and was awarded with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour for his work. Varieties developed by Henry Eckford include the pink Dorothy Eckford, the lavender Lady Grisel Hamilton, the scarlet King Edward VII and the Countess Spencer.

Sweet peas are enchanting little flowers that resemble fringed butterflies. They are grown for their bright colours and the sweet fragrance due to which they earn their common name. Lathyrus stems are somewhat folded and climb on to any supporting surface with delicate tendrils. The delicate Sweet pea is an annual climbing plant and this vine grows 6 to 9 feet tall, with dwarf types reaching 8-20 inches where suitable support is available. In the wild variety, flowers are purple and 2-3.5 cm broad, while larger flowers in numerous colours are available in the countless cultivars.

The enchanting Lathyrus or Sweet Pea are available in a rainbow of colours including red, pink, blue, white and lavender.

Sweet peas fill the garden with their enchanting sight and smell. They are ideal for baskets, tubs and spillover plantings, and make excellent cut flowers. Plant the sweet peas in a different place each year to improve growth. Sweet peas prefer cool climates, but will grow in warmer ones as well. Sweet peas thrive in full sun and rich, well drained soil, blooming from late spring to early summer. Propagation is easily done by seeds. Sweet Pea contains a poisonous toxin and should not be eaten.

Sweet peas lend a cottage feel to gardens and are often grown on bamboo tripods for support. They can also grow through shrubby plants, along the fence or mixed in with the pole beans. Sweet peas are successful cut flowers as well and with their soul lifting fragrance and angelic beauty, they make an ideal choice for corsages and boutonnieres. Vase life of Sweet peas is 3-7 days.

Due to its popularity and success both as a garden plant and as a cut flower, the sweet pea is available in countless cultivars. Popular varieties include Old Fashioned, which is very fragrant; Spencer cultivars which are hardy vines with striking colours, although not all of them are particularly fragrant; and the Bijou Group consisting of sweetly scented dwarf varieties suitable for containers.

Lathyrus or Sweet Pea Meaning

The stunning Sweet pea signifies the meanings Bliss, Delicate Pleasure, Farewell, Departure, Innocence, Youth, Purity, Adieu and Thank You for a Lovely Time.

The sweet pea is also used in Chinese Horoscope and is associated with the Dragon which is the Chinese Horoscope Animal representing the meaning Full of Vitality and Enthusiasm.

Sweet pea or the Lathyrus is also the birth flower for the month of April.

Lathyrus or Sweet Pea Mythology

Ancient Chinese used this plant mixed with other herbs to create a poison for their arrows.

Sweet peas were very popular throughout history especially in the late 1800s and are considered to be the floral emblem for Edwardian England.