Sweet pea Lathyrus 'Lamorna's Love'
ABOUT
The Lathyrus 'Lamorna's Love,' more commonly known as the sweet pea, boasts a charming and alluring appearance. This cultivar is distinguished by its enchanting flowers that come in entrancing shades, typically displaying a blend of soft and romantic colors that captivate onlookers. In particular, the petals can exhibit a rich mix, sometimes with a gradient or bicolor pattern that adds depth and intrigue. The sweet pea's blooms are delicate and almost butterfly-like in form, with each flower featuring a standard petal on the top, which is often a little larger and a different hue than the rest, and wings that flank the sides. These wing petals curve softly downwards, cradling the central keel, which encases the reproductive parts of the flower. The flowers are usually arranged in small clusters, offering a generous show of color when they are in full bloom. Their appearance is further enhanced by their backdrop: the foliage. The leaves of the sweet pea are typically light to medium green, comprising one or more pairs of leaflets accompanied by tendrilled vines, which enable the plant to climb and support itself when grown near fences, trellises, or other structures. The combination of the delicate foliage and the vibrant flowers gives the sweet pea 'Lamorna's Love' a whimsical and cottage garden feel, making it a favored choice for gardeners looking to add a splash of gentle beauty to their landscape. The plant's climbing nature gives it a versatile role in the garden, and its blooms are often celebrated not just for their visual appeal, but for their delightful fragrance as well. This sweet aroma can fill an outdoor space, especially in the right conditions, adding yet another sensory dimension to this attractive plant. The sweet pea 'Lamorna's Love' is a true delight for the eyes and the nose, making it an excellent choice for both ornamental and aromatic gardening pursuits.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea
Common names
Lathyrus 'Lamorna's Love'.
ToxicityTo humans
Lathyrus 'Lamorna's Love', also known as a cultivar of sweet pea, can be toxic if ingested. Sweet peas contain a compound called aminopropionitrile, which can result in a condition known as lathyrism if consumed in large quantities. Lathyrism is characterized by symptoms that may include paralysis, labored breathing, convulsions, and potentially death, due to the effect of the toxin on the nervous system and muscles. This toxicity primarily arises from the seeds of the plant, and therefore, they should be handled with care, and ingestion should be avoided to prevent any adverse effects.
To pets
Sweet pea, which is the common name for Lathyrus 'Lamorna's Love', is poisonous to pets. The plant contains compounds that can cause lathyrism, a condition that results from consuming a substantial amount of the plant material, especially the seeds. Symptoms in pets can include weakness, lethargy, tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, death. It is crucial for pet owners to prevent their animals from ingesting any part of the plant to avoid these toxic effects.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Purple
Height
6 feet (1.83 meters)
Spread
2 feet (0.61 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
Varies
Native area
Unknown
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Adds visual interest to gardens with its vibrant flowers.
- Attracts Pollinators: Invites bees and butterflies, aiding in pollination and supporting biodiversity.
- Easy to Grow: Known for its low maintenance requirements, making it suitable for novice gardeners.
- Seasonal Color: Offers bright seasonal blooms, contributing to the changing landscape throughout the growing period.
- Vertical Interest: As a climbing plant, it can be used to cover trellises, walls, and fences.
- Companion Planting: Can be paired with other plants to enhance overall garden health and aesthetics.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Biodegradable material: The stems of sweet peas can be used as a biodegradable stake for supporting other plants in the garden.
- Natural dye: The flowers of sweet peas can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, offering hues of soft purples, pinks, or blues depending on the flower's color.
- Teaching tool: Sweet peas can be used in educational settings to teach children about the life cycle of flowering plants, including growth from seeds, blooming, and seed production.
- Culinary garnish: Although not edible, the flowers can be used as a decorative garnish for plating desserts and salads, ensuring they are removed before eating.
- Companion planting: Sweet peas can attract beneficial insects which assist in pollinating other plants and keeping pests at bay in the garden.
- Photography subject: Their bright flowers make sweet peas a popular subject for photographers looking to capture the beauty of garden flowers.
- Fragrance collection: Sweet pea flowers can be used in creating potpourris, adding a pleasant fragrance to enclosed spaces such as drawers or wardrobes.
- Floral art: The versatile blooms lend themselves to being used in floral arrangements and botanical art, including pressing and framing.
- Fence beautification: Sweet peas can be grown along fences or trellises to create a visually appealing barrier in the garden or yard.
- Eco-friendly confetti: Dried sweet pea petals can be used as a biodegradable confetti for outdoor celebrations and weddings.
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- Sweet Pea (Lathyrus 'Lamorna's Love'): Symbolizes delicate pleasure, blissful pleasure, good-bye, or departure. Because of its lovely fragrance and delicate blooms, sweet peas often represent the pleasures that are fleeting, encouraging us to enjoy them in the moment.
- Gratitude: Sweet Pea flowers can also express gratitude, making them a perfect choice for thank you bouquets and messages.
- Lasting Pleasure: Another symbol for the Sweet Pea is lasting pleasure, suggesting an experience or memory that one will cherish over time.
- Friendship: The bloom is frequently given to friends as a symbol of a cherished, respectful friendship.
- Delicate or Blissful Pleasure: Sweet Peas are often known to represent a delicate or blissful pleasure. Their association with pleasure is due to their sweet scent and beautiful presentation.
WaterSweet pea 'Lamorna's Love' should be watered deeply once a week, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. In general, aim to provide about one to one and a half gallons of water per plant each time you water. During hot or dry periods, the frequency may need to increase to twice a week. Avoid overhead watering to prevent disease; instead, water at the base of the plant. Always check the soil moisture level before watering to prevent overwatering and root rot.
LightSweet pea 'Lamorna's Love' requires full sun to thrive, with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. The ideal spot would be in an open area that receives plenty of morning light and is protected from harsh afternoon sun, if possible.
TemperatureSweet peas, including 'Lamorna's Love', prefer cooler temperatures and may struggle in extreme heat. They can tolerate a minimum temperature of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but the ideal growing temperature range is between 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Maximum temperatures should not exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit for prolonged periods.
PruningThe sweet pea 'Lamorna's Love' benefits from regular pruning to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. Deadhead spent flowers often to prolong the blooming period, and trim back leggy stems to maintain a tidy appearance. The best time for pruning is in late winter or early spring, right before the new growth begins.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSweet pea 'Lamorna's Love' prefers well-draining soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 for optimal growth.
RepottingSweet peas, including 'Lamorna's Love', generally do not need to be repotted as they are annual plants and complete their lifecycle within a year.
Humidity & MistingSweet pea 'Lamorna's Love' thrives in moderate humidity levels, neither too dry nor too humid, emulating the typical outdoor environment where sweet peas grow best.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Use rich, well-draining soil and ensure ample sunlight.
Outdoor
Plant in fertile soil, full sun, and provide a trellis for support.
Hardiness zone
2-11 USDA
Life cycleThe life cycle of the Lathyrus 'Lamorna's Love', commonly known as Sweet Pea, begins with seed germination which occurs in early spring after a period of cold stratification. Following germination, the seedling emerges, developing true leaves and establishing a root system. As the plant matures, it enters a vegetative growth phase where it produces climbing vines and foliage, with the aid of supports or trellises. During the flowering stage, typically in late spring to early summer, Sweet Pea produces fragrant blooms that range in color, attracting pollinators. After pollination, the plant sets seed pods that mature, dry, and eventually release seeds, completing the reproductive cycle. In regions with mild winters, Sweet Pea may act as a perennial, otherwise, it completes its life cycle within one growing season as an annual.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring
Propogation: The Lathyrus 'Lamorna's Love,' commonly known as Sweet Pea 'Lamorna's Love,' is propagated primarily through its seeds. The best time for sowing Sweet Pea seeds is in late winter to early spring, typically in pots or trays under cover to get a head start on the season. You'd sow the seeds about an inch deep (2.54 cm), in well-draining soil, ensuring that the container has sufficient drainage holes. Germination generally occurs within 7 to 15 days if kept at the right temperature, around 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). To aid in breaking the seed's dormancy and improving germination rates, some gardeners suggest nicking the seed coat or soaking the seeds in water for several hours before planting. Once the seedlings have developed a few sets of true leaves and there's no risk of frost, they can be transplanted outside to their final growing positions, ensuring to acclimate them gradually to the outdoor conditions.
