Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus 'Ron Entwistle'
ABOUT
The Lathyrus odoratus 'Ron Entwistle', commonly known as the sweet pea, is a captivating flowering plant known for its striking appearance. This variety boasts blooms that are typically a rich, deep maroon or crimson color, providing a dramatic and luxurious display. The flowers have a classic sweet pea shape, with each one presenting a round, standard petal at the back and slightly smaller wing petals that spread around it, creating a distinctive and elegant outline. The blossoms are borne on long, slender stems that erupt in clusters, creating a lush bouquet effect that is especially appealing for cutting and bringing indoors to enjoy. Each individual flower is delicate and almost butterfly-like in its form, with a gentle and inviting symmetry that catches the eye. The sweet pea 'Ron Entwistle' not only brings visual delight but also a sensory one, as the flowers emit a delightful fragrance that is sweet and heady, often described as reminiscent of honey and orange blossoms. This enchanting scent makes the plant a favorite among gardeners who enjoy aromatic gardens. The foliage of the plant consists of paired, blue-green leaves that are keen-edged and tendril-bearing, which allows the plant to climb if given support. These tendrils curl tightly around any available support, which could be trellises, wires, or other plants, enabling the sweet pea to ascend and showcase its flowers at varying heights within a garden display. Overall, the 'Ron Entwistle' sweet pea is a superb and highly ornamental plant that adds both visual beauty and olfactory pleasure to gardens and floral arrangements, with its deep-toned flowers and intoxicating scent providing a feast for the senses.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Fabaceae.
Synonyms
Sweet Pea, Common Sweet Pea, Garden Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea.
Common names
Lathyrus odoratus.
ToxicityTo humans
Sweet pea plants, including the cultivar 'Ron Entwistle', contain toxic amino acids, such as beta-aminopropionitrile, which can cause a condition known as lathyrism if ingested in large amounts. Lathyrism is characterized by symptoms that may include paralysis, labored breathing, convulsions, and potentially fatal central nervous system damage. Consumption of seeds is especially dangerous and can lead to more severe symptoms of toxicity.
To pets
Sweet pea plants are toxic to pets as well. The seeds contain the highest concentration of toxic amino acids which can cause lathyrism in animals if ingested in significant quantities. Symptoms in pets may include weakness, lethargy, tremors, seizures, and potential paralysis. In severe cases, ingesting sweet pea can be fatal due to damage to the central nervous system.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Annuals
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
6 feet (1.83 meters)
Spread
1 foot (0.30 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
2
Native area
Mediterranean
Benefits
General Benefits- Attractive Flowers: Lathyrus odoratus 'Ron Entwistle', commonly known as sweet pea, produces vibrant and fragrant flowers that add aesthetic appeal to gardens and landscapes.
- Hummingbird and Butterfly Attraction: Its colorful blooms are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, making it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens.
- Vertical Interest: Sweet peas are climbing plants that can provide vertical interest in a garden, adding dimension and height when grown on supports.
- Cut Flowers: The blooms make excellent cut flowers with a long vase life and sweet fragrance, suitable for floral arrangements.
- Easy to Grow: Sweet peas are relatively easy to grow from seed and do well in a variety of soil types, given adequate support and sunlight.
- Variety of Uses: They can be used in garden beds, borders, containers, and as climbing plants to cover trellises, arbors, or fences.
- Seasonal Color: Sweet peas offer seasonal color, typically in the spring to early summer, brightening up the garden when many other plants are not in peak bloom.
- Companion Planting: Sweet peas can be used in companion planting to add height and color, and to attract pollinators that benefit other plants in the garden.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Biodegradable Plant Markers: The sturdy stems of the sweet pea can be used to create natural plant markers by writing on them with a marker or carving into the stem.
- Natural Fabric Dye: The flowers of the sweet pea, depending on their color, can be used to produce natural dyes for fabric, providing an eco-friendly coloring option.
- Fragrance for Potpourris: Dried sweet pea flowers can be added to potpourris to impart their pleasant scent to a room, closet, or drawer.
- Artistic Inspiration: The sweet pea's vibrant colors and forms can be used as subjects for paintings, drawings, and other artistic projects.
- Educational Tool: Grow sweet peas in a classroom setting to teach children about plant growth, pollination, and the lifecycle of flowering plants.
- Culinary Garnish: Though sweet pea flowers are not edible, they can be used to decorate plates and serving trays for special occasions, as long as they're removed before consumption.
- Photography Subject: The sweet pea's striking appearance makes it a popular choice for photographers looking to capture the beauty of flowers and gardens.
- Wedding Decor: The flowers can be used for decorative purposes in weddings, such as in bouquets, centerpieces, or as part of the venue décor.
- Companion Planting: Sweet peas can be planted alongside fruits and vegetables to attract beneficial insects that aid in pollination.
- Handcrafted Jewelry: Dried sweet pea flowers can be encased in resin to make unique, floral-themed jewelry pieces like pendants and earrings.
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: Sweet Pea flowers are often associated with blissful pleasure, reflecting the joy and satisfaction gained from either smelling their sweet fragrance or simply witnessing their beauty.
- Goodbye: In the language of flowers, Sweet Peas can symbolize a farewell, or the idea of saying goodbye, indicating a wish for the recipient to remember the giver fondly.
- Departure: Similar to goodbye, the Sweet Pea can signify a departure or the end of an era, making them suitable for farewells or graduations.
- Thank you for a lovely time: Their pleasant scent and delightful appearance make Sweet Peas a way to express gratitude for a pleasant experience or enjoyable company.
- Delicate pleasure: The delicate form and scent of the flowers convey a sense of refined enjoyment.
WaterSweet peas, including the variety 'Ron Entwistle', prefer to be watered deeply and infrequently to encourage their roots to grow deep, promoting better drought resistance. Generally, watering should occur once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions, with about 1 inch of water each time. Adjust the frequency during hot, dry spells or cooler, rainy periods. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to deliver water directly to the base of the plants, avoiding wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases. Ensure that the soil is moistened to a depth of at least 6 inches, which typically means using about 0.5 gallons per plant for each watering session.
LightSweet peas like 'Ron Entwistle' thrive best in full sun conditions, which means they should receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. An ideal spot would be an area that gets plenty of morning sunlight and possibly some light afternoon shade in hotter climates. Avoid planting them in deep shade, as insufficient light can limit flowering and make the vines leggy.
TemperatureSweet peas, including 'Ron Entwistle', perform best in cool to moderate temperatures with the optimum range being between 55°F and 65°F. They can tolerate temperatures down to about 25°F, but extended cold below this can damage or kill the plants. Conversely, they tend to fade and stop flowering once temperatures consistently hit above 75°F to 80°F.
PruningSweet peas, including 'Ron Entwistle', should be pruned to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. Pinch off the tips of the plants when they are about 6 inches tall to promote branching. Regularly deadhead spent flowers to stimulate more blooms. The best time to prune is in the late winter or early spring before new growth begins, but maintenance pruning and deadheading should be done throughout the growing season.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSweet peas prefer well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. A mix of two-thirds loamy garden soil and one-third compost or well-rotted manure is ideal. Add perlite or vermiculite to improve drainage. They thrive in a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5, slightly acidic to neutral.
RepottingSweet peas do not usually require repotting as they are annuals. Sow seeds directly into the garden or starter pots each spring; they develop long taproots and transplant poorly.
Humidity & MistingSweet peas prefer moderate humidity conditions. They thrive best when the atmospheric humidity ranges from 40% to 60%, avoiding overly dry air or excessively moist environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place sweet peas near a sunny window and keep soil moist.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun, rich soil, water regularly, and provide support for climbing.
Hardiness zone
2-11 USDA
Life cycleSweet pea 'Ron Entwistle' begins its life cycle with seed germination in early spring, which requires well-drained soil and adequate moisture. After germination, seedlings emerge and grow into young plants with distinctive foliage; they then develop a climbing habit and require support to thrive. Throughout late spring and into summer, the plants produce intensely fragrant flowers on tendrils, usually in shades of rich magenta because 'Ron Entwistle' is a Spencer variety known for its vibrant color and strong scent. After pollination, often by bees, the flowers develop into seed pods, which mature over the following weeks. Once the pods are dry and brown, they split open to disperse seeds, completing the reproductive stage. If the seeds are not collected, they can self-sow, giving rise to new plants the following season, thus continuing the life cycle.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to early summer
The Lathyrus odoratus 'Ron Entwistle', more commonly known as sweet pea, is most effectively propagated by seed. The ideal time for sowing sweet pea seeds is in late winter or early spring to enable a long flowering season. The popular method involves first nicking the seed coat or soaking the seeds in water overnight to improve water absorption and speed up germination. After preparation, the seeds are sown in biodegradable pots or directly into well-drained soil, planted at a depth of about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) and spaced about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 centimeters) apart. The pots or soil should be kept moist until germination, which usually occurs in 10 to 21 days depending on the temperature. Sweet pea seedlings prefer cool temperatures to develop a strong root system before the heat of summer arrives. For best results, they require ample sunlight, protection from strong winds, and regular watering and feeding once they are established.
