Sweet pea 'Kiri Te Kanawa' Lathyrus odoratus 'Kiri Te Kanawa'
ABOUT
'Kiri Te Kanawa' is an annual climber to 1.8m, with strongly scented light pink flowers 4.5cm across
About this plant
NamesFamily
Fabaceae.
Synonyms
Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea, Perennial Pea, Sweetpea.
Common names
Lathyrus odoratus.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Annuals
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Purple
Height
6 feet (1.83 meters)
Spread
1 foot (0.3 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
2
Native area
Mediterranean
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Sweet pea 'Kiri Te Kanawa' offers strikingly beautiful flowers that can enhance the visual appeal of gardens and landscapes.
- Fragrance: The plant is renowned for its delightful fragrance, which adds an aromatic dimension to outdoor spaces.
- Attracts Pollinators: It attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, supporting local ecosystems and pollination.
- Versatility: Suitable for trellises, fences, and arches, it can be used in a variety of garden designs and setups.
- Cutting Garden Suitable: The blooms make excellent cut flowers for arrangements, bringing the garden's beauty indoors.
- Color Variety: Offers a range of colors that can be matched with different garden palettes for harmonious or contrasting designs.
- Easy to Grow: It's a relatively low-maintenance plant that can be grown with ease by gardeners of various experience levels.
- Climbing Habit: Its climbing nature allows it to be used to cover unsightly areas and add vertical interest to the garden.
- Seasonal Interest: Blooms predominantly in late spring and summer, providing seasonal color when many other plants have yet to flower or have finished blooming.
- Seed Pods: After flowering, it produces interesting seed pods that can be used in dry flower arrangements or for seed harvesting.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- As a natural dye: The petals of sweet pea can be used to create natural dyes for textiles, giving fabrics a range of soft purple and lavender hues.
- In perfumery: Sweet pea's fragrant flowers can be used as a natural source of scent in the production of perfumes, offering a sweet floral aroma to fragrance blends.
- As an educational tool: Horticulture and botany programs may use sweet pea to teach students about climbing plant habits and flower structure, due to its distinct growth pattern and conspicuous flowers.
- In artistic inspiration: The vibrant colors and elegant form of sweet pea flowers can inspire artists and be used as subjects in paintings, drawings, and floral designs.
- As a symbol in events: Due to their attractive appearance and fragrance, sweet peas can serve as a symbol for various events, such as being used in bouquets during weddings as a symbol of blissful pleasure or delicate pleasure.
- In companion planting: Sweet peas can be planted near vegetables in gardens to enhance biodiversity and attract pollinators, benefiting the ecosystem of home gardens.
- In floral crafts: Dried sweet pea flowers can be used to create potpourri, wreaths, and other floral crafts, keeping their shape and color for a long-lasting decoration.
- As cut flowers for display: Cut sweet pea flowers are commonly used in floral arrangements and bouquets to add fragrance and aesthetic appeal to indoor spaces.
- As a natural rodent deterrent: In some cases, the intense fragrance of sweet pea might be used to deter rodents from areas where their presence is unwanted.
- In seasonal festivals: Sweet pea flowers are celebrated in seasonal festivals, such as the National Sweet Pea Show in the UK, where they become attractions and subjects of competition amongst gardeners.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiSweet pea is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilitySweet pea is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Blissful Pleasure: The Sweet Pea, including the 'Kiri Te Kanawa' cultivar, often symbolizes blissful pleasure, representing the enjoyment derived from experiencing their charming fragrances.
- Goodbye and Departure: Historically, Sweet Peas have been used to indicate a farewell or goodbye, possibly due to their brief bloom time, reminiscent of fleeting moments.
- Delicate Pleasure: Sweet Peas symbolize delicate or exquisite pleasures, emphasizing the gentle and subtle joys that come with small luxuries or experiences.
- Thankfulness: Sweet Peas can express gratitude, making them a perfect flower for thank-you bouquets and a means to convey appreciation.
- Friendship: Because of the flower’s light and pleasant aroma and attractive appearance, they often denote friendships and kind thought towards others.
WaterSweet Peas should be watered deeply once a week, providing about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water per plant each time. It's important to avoid overhead watering to reduce the risk of disease; instead, water at the base of the plant. During periods of drought or high temperatures, watering frequency should increase to twice a week. Avoid waterlogging the soil as this can lead to root rot. During their active growth period in the spring, ensure consistent moisture, but once they're well established, they can tolerate some dry spells.
LightSweet Peas thrive in full sunlight, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sun per day; this helps ensure robust growth and optimal flowering. The best spot for Sweet Peas is an area that receives morning light and some partial shade during the hottest part of the afternoon to protect them from extreme heat, ensuring a longer blooming season.
TemperatureSweet Peas prefer cooler temperatures, with ideal conditions ranging between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive minimum temperatures down to about 25 degrees Fahrenheit and maximum temperatures up to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, although prolonged heat will diminish flowering and can cause the plant to wilt.
PruningPrune Sweet Peas regularly by deadheading spent flowers to encourage continued blooming throughout the season. For optimal plant health and to stimulate new growth, prune back by one-third after the first flush of flowers has faded. The best time for pruning is late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSweet Pea 'Kiri Te Kanawa' thrives in a well-draining soil mix composed of loam, peat, and compost with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. To enhance drainage, incorporate perlite or coarse sand. Regular feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer will support vigorous growth.
RepottingSweet Pea 'Kiri Te Kanawa' is generally grown as an annual and does not need repotting. Instead, sow new seeds each year in fresh soil.
Humidity & MistingSweet Pea 'Kiri Te Kanawa' prefers moderate humidity levels. It can tolerate the varying conditions found in most outdoor garden environments without specific humidity requirements.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Use well-draining soil, provide ample sunlight, and ensure good air circulation.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun, enrich soil with compost, ensure good drainage.
Hardiness zone
2-11 USDA.
Life cycleSweet pea 'Kiri Te Kanawa' begins its life as a seed, typically sown in late winter or early spring when the soil is cool. Upon germination, the seedling emerges and starts to develop a set of true leaves, after which the plant experiences a vegetative growth phase characterized by rapid stem and leaf development. As the weather warms, the sweet pea plants begin to climb, using their tendrils to grasp onto support structures. The flowering stage follows, with fragrant blooms usually appearing in late spring or early summer, relying on bees and butterflies for pollination. After pollination, the flowers develop into pods, containing seeds that mature by the end of the growing season. Once matured, the pods dry and release seeds, completing the cycle, though the perennial nature of the plant can allow it to survive and bloom again in the following season, climate permitting.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring
The most popular method for propagating Sweet Pea 'Kiri Te Kanawa' is through seeds. Typically, it's best to sow Sweet Pea seeds in late winter or early spring, depending on your local climate. To maximize success, soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing to soften the hard outer shell. Then, plant seeds about an inch (2.5 centimeters) deep in well-draining soil. Space them approximately 2-3 inches (5-7.6 centimeters) apart, in a sunny spot with some shelter from strong winds. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and you can expect germination in 7-15 days. This method is quite straightforward and allows for the cultivation of these fragrant flowers within a single growing season.
