Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus 'Isabella Cochrane'

Names

• Family

  Fabaceae

• Synonyms

  Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea, Perennial Pea

• Common names

  Lathyrus odoratus.

Toxicity

• To humans

  Sweet pea, including the variety 'Isabella Cochrane', contains toxic amino acids, particularly in the seeds and seed pods, which can pose a hazard if ingested in large quantities. Symptoms of sweet pea poisoning typically include lethargy, convulsions, and possibly paralysis. More severe cases can lead to a condition called lathyrism, which is characterized by potentially irreversible paralysis of the lower limbs and neurological damage. Ingestion of the flowers or leaves in small amounts is usually not harmful, but ingestion of seeds and pods should be avoided.

• To pets

  Sweet pea, including the 'Isabella Cochrane' variety, is also toxic to pets because of its amino acid content, especially in seeds and seed pods. If pets consume these parts of the plant, they can experience symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, convulsions, and even paralysis. Chronic ingestion could lead to a condition called lathyrism in animals, similar to that in humans, which involves neurological damage and is potentially irreversible. Pet owners should prevent animals from ingesting any part of the sweet pea plant to avoid these risks.

Characteristics

• Life cycle

  Annuals

• Foliage type

  Deciduous

• Color of leaves

  Green

• Flower color

  Pink

• 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: Sweet pea 'Isabella Cochrane' is renowned for its beautiful pastel lavender flowers, which add color and visual interest to gardens and landscapes.
• Fragrance: This plant is known for its delightful scent, which can perfume an entire garden area and enhance the overall sensory experience.
• Attracts Pollinators: The blossoms of sweet pea 'Isabella Cochrane' attract beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies, supporting biodiversity.
• Cut Flowers: The sturdy, long stems and vibrant blooms make them ideal for cutting and using in floral arrangements.
• Vertical Interest: As a climbing plant, sweet pea 'Isabella Cochrane' can be trained on trellises or supports, adding vertical interest to garden designs.
• Screening: When grown on supports, it can provide a natural screen or living wall, offering privacy and aesthetics.
• Easy to Grow: It is relatively easy to cultivate in temperate regions and does not require extensive gardening expertise.
• Variety of Uses: Sweet pea 'Isabella Cochrane' can be used in borders, container gardening, and as part of cottage garden schemes.
• Cultural Significance: Sweet peas are often associated with fond memories and traditions, making them a popular choice for gardens with a nostalgic or romantic theme.
• Edible Pea Pods: While the ornamental sweet pea's seeds and pods are not edible, some Lathyrus species produce edible pods, offering a dual-purpose in garden planning.

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

• Sweet peas, such as 'Isabella Cochrane', can be used in floral art and arrangements due to their attractive blooms and unique fragrance, which often adds a touch of elegance to bouquets.
• The stems and vines of the sweet pea can be woven into living fences or screens when grown on trellises, providing a natural and decorative privacy barrier.
• The plant's vines can also be used for crafting natural wreaths and other decorative items, integrating the fresh or dried flowers for their aesthetic appeal.
• Sweet pea flowers can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, yielding colors that can range from soft greens to various shades of blue and purple, depending on the mordant used.
• The petals of sweet peas are sometimes used in the culinary arts as edible decorations for salads and desserts, although they are not widely recognized as a traditional food source.
• In educational settings, sweet peas can serve as a model for teaching about genetics and heredity, as they were one of the plants studied by Gregor Mendel in his foundational experiments.
• As companion plants in the vegetable garden, sweet peas can help support beneficial insects like bees, which are necessary for the pollination of many crops.
• The vibrant flowers of the sweet pea can be used in photography and painting as subjects to explore concepts of light, color, and composition in art.
• During special events, such as weddings or parties, sweet peas can be used as natural confetti, celebrating with biodegradable flower petals instead of synthetic materials.
• Sweet pea vines can be used in classroom or educational gardening projects to demonstrate the principles of climbing plants and their methods of support and growth.

Feng Shui

Sweet pea is not used in Feng Shui practice.

Zodiac Sign Compitability

Sweet pea is not used in astrology practice.

Plant Symbolism

• Pleasure: Sweet pea, with its delightfully fragrant blooms, traditionally represents pleasure or having a pleasurable experience.
• Goodbye: In the language of flowers, sweet pea can signify saying goodbye or a departure after a positive interaction.
• Thankfulness: Giving sweet peas is a way to express thanks for a lovely time or for someone's kindness.
• Delicate Pleasures: Sweet peas embody the notion of enjoying the delicate, fleeting pleasures that life has to offer.
• Blissful Pleasure: The sweet aroma and charming petals of the sweet pea are reminiscent of blissful and carefree days, suggesting the idea of simply enjoying life's sweet moments.