Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus 'Bishop Rock'

Names

• Synonyms

  Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea, Annual Sweet Pea, Sweetpea, Garden Pea, Perennial Pea, Peavine, Wild Sweet Pea, Bishop's Flower.

• Common names

  Lathyrus odoratus 'Bishop Rock'.

Toxicity

• To humans

  The common name for Lathyrus odoratus 'Bishop Rock' is sweet pea. Although sweet peas are known for their beautiful flowers and pleasant scent, they contain toxic amino acids such as beta-aminopropionitrile, which can cause a condition known as lathyrism when consumed in large quantities. Lathyrism is characterized by symptoms that may include weakness and paralysis of the lower limbs, and in severe cases, could potentially affect the nervous system. Lathyrism is more commonly associated with the chronic ingestion of the seeds or seedlings over a long period rather than from casual or occasional contact with the plant.

• To pets

  Sweet pea, the common name for Lathyrus odoratus 'Bishop Rock', is also toxic to pets. As in humans, the toxicity is due to the presence of amino acids, such as beta-aminopropionitrile. If pets consume sweet pea seeds or seedlings, they may exhibit signs of lathyrism. Signs of sweet pea poisoning in pets can include lethargy, convulsions, and difficulty breathing. Chronic ingestion can lead to more severe symptoms including muscle tremors and seizures. Immediate veterinary attention is recommended if sweet pea ingestion is suspected in a pet.

Characteristics

• Life cycle

  Annuals

• Foliage type

  Deciduous

• Color of leaves

  Green

• Flower color

  Varies

• Height

  6 feet (1.8 meters)

• Spread

  1 foot (0.3 meters)

• Plant type

  Climber

• Hardiness zones

  2

• Native area

  Mediterranean

General Benefits

• Aesthetic Appeal: The sweet pea 'Bishop Rock' adds vibrant color and beauty to gardens with its deep red flowers, enhancing visual pleasure.
• Fragrance: This variety is known for a delightful scent that can perfume the air in its vicinity, creating a pleasant outdoor atmosphere.
• Pollinator Attraction: Sweet peas are excellent for attracting bees and butterflies, supporting pollinator populations and biodiversity.
• Vertical Gardening: Since the plant is a climber, it's ideal for vertical gardening, helping to utilize space efficiently in small gardens.
• Easy to Grow: 'Bishop Rock' is relatively easy to cultivate, which makes it a good choice for novice gardeners seeking to grow ornamental plants.
• Cutting Garden: The long stems and attractive flowers make it an excellent plant for creating cut flower arrangements to decorate the indoors.
• Seasonal Interest: This annual plant provides seasonal interest during its flowering period in the spring and summer.
• Educational: Gardening with sweet peas can be an educational experience, teaching about plant growth, care, and the lifecycle of annual flowers.
• Emotional Wellbeing: Tending to plants like sweet peas can provide a sense of tranquility, reduce stress, and increase a feeling of well-being.
• Versatility: The 'Bishop Rock' variety can be used in various settings, such as borders, containers, and as part of a mixed flowerbed.

Medical Properties

This plant is not used for medical purposes.

Air-purifying Qualities

This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.

Other Uses

• Lathyrus odoratus 'Bishop Rock', commonly known as sweet pea, can be used in educational settings to demonstrate the Mendelian principles of heredity, as they exhibit easily observable traits such as flower color.
• Its dried seed pods can be utilized in arts and crafts for making natural jewelry or as additions to decorative wreaths and arrangements.
• The vines of the sweet pea can be trained to grow over structures to create green screens or living walls, providing privacy and aesthetic appeal to garden spaces.
• The stems and foliage can be composted to enrich soil as they break down due to their organic matter content.
• Children use the hollowed pods in play as natural pea-shooters, blowing seeds through the air from the open pods.
• Extracts from the flower are sometimes used in the perfume industry for their fragrance, although this is not a common practice due to the synthetic alternatives available.
• In photography and painting, the vibrant flowers are often used as subjects to explore color and form, or as a backdrop for portraiture.
• Sweet pea flowers can be pressed and preserved in books or frames as mementos or for decoration, retaining their color and shape for extended periods.
• Culinary presentations sometimes utilize the non-toxic flowers as an ornamental and edible decorative element on salads and desserts, although they are not commonly consumed.
• In amateur plant breeding, sweet peas can be cross-pollinated to create new flower colors and patterns, offering a hands-on experience in selective breeding practices.

Feng Shui

The Sweet Pea is not used in Feng Shui practice.

Zodiac Sign Compitability

The Sweet Pea is not used in astrology practice.

Plant Symbolism

• Blissful Pleasure: Lathyrus odoratus, commonly known as Sweet Pea, often symbolizes blissful pleasure due to its sweet fragrance and delicate flowers.
• Goodbye and Departure: Sweet Pea can also represent goodbyes or farewells, perhaps originating from its fleeting lifespan after cutting and how it's often given when someone is leaving or parting.
• Thank You: The flower is indicative of appreciation and gratitude, making it a suitable token of thanks for someone's kindness or hospitality.
• Delicate Pleasure: Its light and lovable scent are associated with the enjoyment of delicate and simple pleasures in life.
• Adieu: In line with its symbolism for goodbyes, Sweet Pea can be seen as wishing someone a fond adieu with an emphasis on tender memories.