Sweet pea 'Bounce Navy Blue' Lathyrus odoratus 'Bounce Navy Blue'
ABOUT
'Bounce Navy Blue' is a dwarf, hardy annual cultivar that forms hummocks 30-60cm in height with dark blue flowers
About this plant
NamesFamily
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea, Annual Pea, Perennial Pea
Common names
Lathyrus odoratus.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Annuals
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Navy Blue
Height
6 feet (1.8 meters)
Spread
1 foot (0.3 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
2
Native area
Mediterranean
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Lathyrus odoratus 'Bounce Navy Blue', also known as sweet pea, features deep blue flowers that add a striking visual interest to gardens.
- Fragrance: Sweet peas are known for their delightful scent, which can enhance the sensory experience of any garden space.
- Cut Flowers: The stems of sweet peas are perfect for cutting and creating fragrant, colorful bouquets for indoor enjoyment.
- Vertical Gardening: As a climbing plant, sweet peas are ideal for vertical gardening, allowing the creation of green walls or for covering trellises and fences.
- Attracts Pollinators: Sweet peas produce flowers that are attractive to bees and butterflies, promoting biodiversity in the garden.
- Ease of Care: These plants are relatively easy to grow and maintain, making them suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Seasonal Interest: Sweet peas provide seasonal interest with their flowering period typically occurring in the spring and summer months.
- Fast Growing: Sweet peas have a rapid growth rate, which can quickly fill in garden spaces with lush foliage and blooms.
- Variety of Uses: Due to their climbing habit and attractive flowers, sweet peas can be used in a variety of garden designs, including cottage gardens, borders, and containers.
- Seed Propagation: Sweet pea seeds can be easily saved and sown the following year, making them a cost-effective addition to gardens.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Cut Flower Arrangements: The striking blue flowers of sweet pea can be used to create beautiful and fragrant cut flower arrangements that last for several days when kept in water.
- Photography: Sweet pea flowers can serve as an excellent subject for macro and nature photography due to their vivid colors and intricate details.
- Educational Tool: Sweet pea plants can be utilized in educational settings to teach students about plant growth, pollination, and the lifecycle of flowering plants.
- Artistic Inspiration: The vibrant petals of the sweet pea can inspire artists to incorporate their likeness into paintings, drawings, and textile designs.
- Natural Dyes: The petals of the sweet pea may be used to create natural dyes for coloring fabrics or other materials in shades of blue and purple.
- Companion Planting: Sweet pea can be used in gardening as a companion plant to help support and enhance the growth of certain vegetables and other flowers.
- Special Events: Sweet pea flowers can be incorporated into wedding decorations, such as table centerpieces or bouquets, due to their allure and pleasant scent.
- Craft Projects: Dried sweet pea flowers can be employed in craft projects like making potpourri, floral sachets, or decorative wreaths.
- Garden Aesthetics: Sweet pea plants can be strategically placed in a garden to add vertical interest and to enhance the visual appeal with their climbing habit.
- Perfumery: Although not common in commercial perfumery, the scent of sweet pea flowers can be used by hobbyists to make homemade perfumes or scented candles.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Sweet Pea is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Sweet Pea is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Blissful Pleasure: The sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus 'Bounce Navy Blue', with its delicate fragrance, often symbolizes blissful pleasure, reflecting the joy and happiness one feels in the presence of its beauty and scent.
- Goodbye: In the language of flowers, sweet peas can represent a cordial farewell or goodbye, making them a thoughtful addition to farewell gifts or when leaving a significant place or person.
- Kindness: Due to their pleasant aroma and the gentleness of their petals, sweet peas are sometimes used to symbolize kindness, suggesting a nature of generosity and concern for others.
- Lasting Pleasure: Unlike the fleeting nature of some pleasures, the sweet pea implies a more enduring sense of enjoyment, possibly reflecting on relationships or experiences that leave a lasting positive impact.
- Delicate Pleasures: The subtle beauty and fragrance of the sweet pea can also represent the delicate pleasures in life—those understated but significant moments that bring joy and happiness.
WaterFor Sweet Pea 'Bounce Navy Blue', it's important to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Watering should be done deeply approximately once a week with about 1 gallon of water per plant, increasing frequency during hot, dry periods. Ensure that the water penetrates the soil to reach the roots rather than just wetting the surface. During the growing season, Sweet Peas may require additional water to maintain soil moisture levels, but it's crucial to avoid overwatering which can lead to root rot.
LightSweet Pea 'Bounce Navy Blue' thrives in full sun, which means it requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The best spot for this plant would be in an area that gets unfiltered sunlight for most of the day. However, in very hot climates, providing afternoon shade can help protect the plant from excessive heat.
TemperatureSweet Peas, including 'Bounce Navy Blue,' prefer cooler temperatures and can tolerate a minimum temperature of about 40°F. The ideal temperature range for Sweet Peas is between 50°F and 65°F. They are not heat tolerant and may struggle or stop blooming when temperatures consistently exceed 80°F.
PruningSweet Pea 'Bounce Navy Blue' should be pruned to encourage bushiness and more flowers. Pinch back the tips of the plant when it is about 4 to 6 inches tall. Deadheading, or removing spent blooms, should be done regularly to promote continuous blooming. The best time for pruning and deadheading Sweet Peas is late winter or early spring, before the growing season begins in earnest.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSweet pea 'Bounce Navy Blue' thrives in rich, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. A mix of loamy soil, peat moss, and perlite or sand can enhance drainage and fertility. Amend with compost or aged manure for extra nutrients.
RepottingSweet peas like 'Bounce Navy Blue' generally do not require frequent repotting and can thrive for a season in the same pot. Repot only if the plant outgrows its container or if the soil has become exhausted, typically every 1 to 2 years.
Humidity & MistingSweet pea 'Bounce Navy Blue' tolerates average humidity levels but prefers a range of 40-60%. Keeping them in a well-ventilated area helps maintain their ideal humidity levels without the need for adjustments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Keep in bright, indirect light; cooler temperatures preferred.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to light shade, sheltered from strong winds.
Hardiness zone
2-11 USDA
Life cycleThe life of the Sweet Pea 'Bounce Navy Blue' begins with seed germination, which occurs in late winter to early spring when sown in well-draining soil and kept at a temperature of around 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C). The seeds germinate and develop into seedlings with a pair of true leaves, which then grow into vigorous climbing plants, given ample sunlight and support for their tendrils. Flowering commences in late spring to early summer, showcasing the plant's distinct deep navy blue fragrant blossoms. After pollination, typically by bees, the flowers develop into pods containing the seeds for the next generation. As summer progresses, the plant will produce multiple seeds and, unless deadheaded, will eventually enter senescence, where growth slows down and the plant begins to wither. Finally, the plant completes its lifecycle by dying back, leaving seeds that can be collected for next season's planting or that may self-sow, depending on the garden conditions.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring
The Sweet Pea 'Bounce Navy Blue' is most commonly propagated by seed. Propagation by seed usually occurs in late winter to early spring. To encourage germination, it is often advised to soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. After soaking, the seeds can be sown directly into pots or trays filled with a well-drained seed compost. Place the pots in a warm area with temperatures around 65°F (approximately 18°C) until germination, which typically occurs in about 10 to 14 days. When seedlings are sturdy enough, they should be hardened off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before transplanting to their final location in the garden when the risk of frost has passed.
