Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus 'Lizbeth'
ABOUT
Lathyrus odoratus 'Lizbeth', commonly known as sweet pea 'Lizbeth', is a flowering plant renowned for its captivating blooms and delightful fragrance. The plant produces flowers in a striking combination of colors, often showcasing petals that are a blend of pastel tones or rich, vivid hues. Each flower typically consists of a standard, two wing petals, and a keel, arranged in a way that resembles butterflies perched upon the stems. Sweet pea 'Lizbeth' has a tendril-climbing habit, with slender green vines that gracefully twine around support structures, giving it an elegant and airy appearance as it grows. The leaves are compound, with leaflets that are oval to lance-shaped, contributing to the plant's overall delicate look. The tendrils help the plant cling to trellises, fences, or other supports, allowing the sweet pea vines to create a vertical display of its ornamental flowers. The blooms of sweet pea 'Lizbeth' are typically arranged in small clusters, making them a favorite in bouquets and floral arrangements. The petals are soft to the touch, with a velvety texture, and their edges may be lightly ruffled, adding to their intricate beauty. Each flower exudes a sweet, almost intoxicating scent that is particularly strong on warm days, attracting both garden visitors and pollinators alike. Overall, sweet pea 'Lizbeth' is celebrated for its showy, fragrant flowers and its ability to add a romantic touch to any garden space. Its picturesque vine growth habit and vibrant blossoms make it a popular choice for gardeners wishing to create a focal point of natural color and fragrance.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Fabaceae.
Synonyms
Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea, Perennial Pea, Sweetpea.
Common names
Lathyrus odoratus 'Lizbeth'.
ToxicityTo humans
Sweet pea plants, including the 'Lizbeth' cultivar, contain toxic amino acids, specifically beta-aminopropionitrile that can cause a condition known as lathyrism when ingested in large quantities. Lathyrism is characterized by symptoms that may include paralysis, labored breathing, and convulsions. Chronic ingestion can lead to more severe neurological effects such as muscle weakness and paralysis.
To pets
Sweet pea toxicity in pets may result in similar conditions as in humans if consumed in large amounts. The plant contains toxic compounds that can cause lathyrism, which in pets might manifest as lethargy, seizures, and muscle tremors. Chronic ingestion can cause potentially irreversible paralysis and skeletal malformations.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Annuals
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Varies
Height
6 feet (1.83 meters)
Spread
1 foot (0.30 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
2
Native area
Mediterranean
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Lizbeth sweet pea produces attractive, colorful flowers that enhance the beauty of gardens and landscapes.
- Fragrance: The flowers emit a pleasant, sweet scent that can perfume a garden area or indoor space when used as a cut flower.
- Ease of Growth: Sweet pea is known for being easy to grow, making it accessible for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Pollinator Attraction: Sweet peas attract beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, which are essential for pollination.
- Vertical Interest: As a climbing plant, sweet pea can provide vertical interest in the garden, offering a way to maximize space and create dynamic visual layers.
- Seasonal Color: It offers seasonal color through its blooming period in the spring and summer months.
- Versatility: Sweet pea can be used in various garden designs, including borders, trellises, and containers, offering flexibility for gardeners and landscapers.
- Edible Flowers: Although not a common practice, sweet pea flowers are edible and can be used as a garnish, providing a unique addition to salads and culinary creations.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Photography Prop: Sweet pea 'Lizbeth' can be used by photographers, particularly in garden and nature photography, as a vibrant and visually appealing background thanks to its colorful blooms.
- Art Inspiration: Artists can draw inspiration from the intricate petals and delicate colors of the sweet pea 'Lizbeth' for painting, drawing, or other forms of visual art.
- Educational Tool: Biology and horticulture teachers may use sweet pea 'Lizbeth' to illustrate plant growth patterns, pollination methods, and the structure of a flowering plant.
- Garden Decomposition: When left in the garden to decompose, sweet pea 'Lizbeth' plants can contribute organic matter to the soil, which can improve soil structure and fertility over time.
- Perfumery: Sweet pea 'Lizbeth' flowers can be used to create natural, plant-based perfumes, capturing the flower's light, sweet fragrance.
- Culinary Garnish: Although the sweet pea 'Lizbeth' is not edible, its flowers can be used to decorate cakes and desserts, provided they are removed before consumption.
- Dye Production: The petals of the sweet pea 'Lizbeth' can potentially be used to create natural dyes for fabrics or artisanal crafts.
- Creative Crafting: Dried sweet pea 'Lizbeth' flowers can be incorporated into homemade potpourri mixes or used in crafting projects like scrapbooking and pressed flower art.
- Symbolic Gift: Sweet pea 'Lizbeth' bouquets can be given as gifts representing departure or goodbyes, as they have historically symbolized these sentiments.
- Event Decor: Sweet pea 'Lizbeth' can serve as event decoration, providing a fresh and fragrant element to weddings, parties, and other celebrations.
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: Since Lathyrus odoratus 'Lizbeth' is a variety of sweet pea, it inherits the common symbolism of this flower. Sweet peas are associated with pleasurable experiences due to their enchanting fragrance and delicate blossoms.
- Goodbye and Departure: In the language of flowers, sweet peas can signify bidding farewell or saying goodbye, perhaps as a gentle and affectionate way to part with loved ones.
- Thankfulness: Giving sweet peas can be a way to express gratitude, making them suitable for thank you bouquets or gestures of appreciation.
- Delicate or Blissful Pleasure: The delicate nature of the flower and its pleasant scent convey a sense of gentle enjoyment or tender moments.
- Adieu: Echoing the themes of farewell, sweet peas symbolize the wish for a fond adieu or goodbye, tinged with positive feelings.
WaterSweet peas need consistent moisture to thrive, so it's important to water them regularly. The soil should be kept lightly moist but not waterlogged. During their active growing season, sweet peas may need watering once a week with about one-inch of water. In hotter, drier climates or during particularly dry spells, you may need to water twice a week. Use a gentle stream of water to avoid disturbing the soil or damaging the plant stems, and aim to water at the base of the plants to keep the foliage dry and discourage mildew.
LightSweet peas prefer full sunlight for robust growth and maximum flowering. They should be placed in a spot where they receive at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Ensure that the chosen location is not shaded by other plants or structures, as too much shade can reduce blooming and lead to weaker plants.
TemperatureSweet peas grow best in temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, making them ideal for cooler climates or for growing early in the spring. They can tolerate temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods, but frost can damage the plants. Sweet peas may struggle and stop blooming in temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, as they prefer cooler weather.
PruningPruning sweet peas encourages more prolific blooming and keeps plants looking tidy. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to prevent the plant from setting seed, which signals the plant to stop producing new flowers. Cut back the stem just above a set of leaves. Sweet peas should be pruned throughout their blooming season. The best time for major pruning or cutting back to manage size is in the late winter or early spring before new growth begins in earnest.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSweet pea 'Lizbeth' thrives in well-draining soil rich in organic matter with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. A mixture of loamy soil, peat moss, and perlite or sand aids in drainage. Regularly adding compost will keep the soil fertile and promote vigorous growth.
RepottingSweet pea 'Lizbeth' typically does not require repotting as it is an annual plant. It completes its life cycle in one growing season, meaning it's planted anew each year rather than being repotted.
Humidity & MistingSweet pea 'Lizbeth' prefers moderate humidity levels but is adaptable to a range of conditions as long as it is not too dry. They do not require high humidity environments to thrive.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light, and keep soil consistently moist.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to partial shade, in fertile, well-drained soil.
Hardiness zone
2-11 USDA
Life cycleThe life of the sweet pea 'Lizbeth' begins with seed germination, ideally in early spring after the last frost when seeds are sown in well-draining soil. The seedlings emerge and develop into climbing plants, requiring support as they grow long, twining stems. Throughout spring and into summer, the plant matures and produces fragrant, colorful flowers, attracting pollinators and potentially setting seed if flowers are left to mature. If conditions are suitable, these seeds can fall to the ground and enter a dormant phase, surviving through winter to germinate the next season. Gardeners often collect and store seeds from 'Lizbeth' sweet peas at the end of the flowering season, sowing them again the following year to continue the cycle. With proper care, including regular watering and deadheading to promote further blooming, 'Lizbeth' can provide a long flowering period before dying back at the end of the growing season.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring
Lathyrus odoratus 'Lizbeth', commonly known as sweet pea 'Lizbeth', is most frequently propagated through seed. The best time to sow sweet pea seeds is in late winter or early spring, allowing for development before the warm growing season starts. To propagate by seeds, one should first nick the seed coat with a file or soak the seeds in water overnight to encourage germination. After preparation, plant the seeds about 1 inch deep in well-drained soil and space them 2 to 3 inches apart. It typically takes about 10 to 21 days for sweet pea seeds to germinate when kept at a temperature between 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 13 to 18 degrees Celsius). Once the seedlings have developed a few sets of true leaves and are strong enough, they can be transplanted to their final growing positions either in the ground or in containers.
