Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus 'Sicilian Pink'
ABOUT
The Sweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' is a charming flowering plant known for its delightful fragrance and colorful blossoms. This variety showcases pastel pink petals that exude an irresistible sweet scent, captivating garden enthusiasts and pollinators alike. The blossoms typically feature a delicate, soft pink hue, often with a slight gradient and occasionally deeper pink shades at the edges or veins, giving them a romantic and endearing look. Each flower is characteristically shaped with a standard petal at the top, wings on the sides, and a keel at the bottom, presenting a butterfly-like appearance. The flowers emerge from the vines in clusters, creating a profusion of color that can enliven any garden space. These tendrils and vines are quite adept at climbing, using other plants or support structures to grow upon. Alongside the charming flowers, the foliage consists of bright green, pinnate leaves that spread out from the stems, offering a lush backdrop to the vivid blossoms. The leaflets are oval to lance-shaped, complementing the overall aesthetic of the plant with their refreshing green tones. Overall, Sweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' is not only celebrated for its picturesque flowers and fragrance but also for the lively, spirited ambiance it brings to the spaces it adorns.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Fabaceae.
Synonyms
Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea, Perennial Pea, Sicilian Pink Sweet Pea.
Common names
Lathyrus odoratus.
ToxicityTo humans
Sweet pea is known to contain toxic amino acids, such as beta-aminopropionitrile. While its brightly colored flowers might appeal to the senses, ingesting any part of the sweet pea plant, including seeds and fruit, can result in symptoms of toxicity. These symptoms can include lethargy, convulsions, and potentially harm to the skeletal muscles and bones after long-term consumption due to a condition known as lathyrism. It is important to avoid consuming any part of the sweet pea to prevent these toxic effects.
To pets
Sweet pea toxic amino acids can affect pets much like they do humans. Consumption of any part of the sweet pea, including seeds and fruits, can result in similar symptoms of poisoning. Pets may experience lethargy, convulsions, and if consumed over a long period, could develop lathyrism, which has damaging effects on the skeletal muscles and bones. It's crucial to prevent pets from ingesting sweet pea to avoid these dangerous health impacts.
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- Aesthetic Appeal: Lathyrus odoratus 'Sicilian Pink', commonly known as Sweet Pea, adds a beautiful touch to gardens with its delicate pink flowers.
- Fragrance: Sweet Peas are known for their delightful scent, which can enhance the sensory experience of any garden or bouquet.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers can attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, helping to pollinate plants in the garden.
- Cut Flowers: They make excellent cut flowers, adding both scent and color to floral arrangements.
- Easy to Grow: Sweet Peas are relatively easy to cultivate, making them a good choice for novice gardeners.
- Climbing Habit: Their climbing nature allows them to be used effectively on trellises, fences, and arbors for vertical gardening.
- Variety of Uses: Can be utilized in borders, as container plants, or for creating ornamental displays.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Dried for Crafts: Sweet pea 'Sicilian Pink' flowers can be dried and used for scrapbooking or in potpourri mixtures, adding a touch of natural color and subtle fragrance to various craft projects.
- Education: Gardeners and students often use sweet pea plants to learn about genetics and hybridization due to their variety of colors and ease of cross-pollination.
- Natural Dyes: The petals of 'Sicilian Pink' can be used to create natural dyes for fabric, yielding soft pink hues that are eco-friendly and unique.
- Garden Companions: Sweet peas are often planted near vegetables as they can help to attract pollinators, thus increasing the yield of the vegetable garden.
- Floral Arrangements: Their long stems and fragrant blooms make sweet peas ideal for cut flower arrangements, adding both height and a delicate scent to bouquets.
- Photography: The vivid colors and attractive shape of 'Sicilian Pink' blooms make them popular subjects for photographers looking to capture the beauty of nature.
- Memory Gardens: Sweet peas are often planted in memory gardens as they symbolize departure as well as gratitude for a beautiful time, making them sentimental plants for many.
- Culinary Garnish: Although the plant itself is not edible, the flowers can be used as a non-toxic garnish to add a pop of color to salads and desserts.
- Confetti: Biodegradable and more environmentally friendly than paper or plastic, dried sweet pea petals can be tossed as natural confetti at celebrations like weddings.
- Lattice Training: Gardeners can use sweet peas to cover lattices, creating natural green spaces or privacy screens that are visually pleasing.
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- Delight: Sweet peas, including Lathyrus odoratus 'Sicilian Pink', are often associated with pleasure and enjoying the good things in life due to their sweet fragrance and delicate flowers.
- Goodbye: In the language of flowers, they can symbolize a farewell or departure, possibly because they are a good choice for parting gifts due to their appealing scent and lovely appearance.
- Blissful pleasure: The sweet scent and enchanting blooms of the sweet pea signify the pure joy and happiness found in blissful moments.
- Thank you for a lovely time: Sweet peas are often given to express gratitude for shared special times and wonderful experiences.
WaterFor your Sweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink', ensure consistent moisture by watering them once weekly with about one gallon of water. During the hot season or in particularly dry conditions, water twice a week. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering. Water the plants near the base to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases. In cooler weather or when it's raining consistently, you can reduce the frequency to avoid waterlogged soil.
LightSweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' thrives in full sunlight, so place them where they can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. They can tolerate partial shade, but flowering will be less abundant. Avoid locations that are shaded for most of the day, as this will hinder their growth and ability to flower profusely.
TemperatureSweet Peas like 'Sicilian Pink' prefer cooler temperatures and will thrive in conditions where the temperature remains between 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They can handle a slight frost, so minimum temperatures can go as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. However, temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit may hinder flowering, and prolonged exposure to heat could damage the plant.
PruningPrune your Sweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' to encourage vigorous growth and more blooms. Pinch out the tips when the plants are 4-6 inches tall to promote bushiness. Regularly remove faded flowers (deadheading) to extend the blooming period. The best time for pruning is late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' thrives in well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5. A good soil mix for Sweet Pea includes two parts loam, one part well-rotted compost, and a handful of perlite to promote drainage.
RepottingSweet Peas, including the 'Sicilian Pink' variety, typically do not require frequent repotting as they are annual plants. They are usually sown directly where they are to flower and are not repotted during their one growing season.
Humidity & MistingSweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' prefers moderate humidity levels. Ensuring good air circulation around the plants will help maintain suitable humidity conditions without the need for specific adjustments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place Sweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' near a sunny window and support climbing.
Outdoor
Plant Sweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' in a sunny spot with supports for climbing.
Hardiness zone
2-11 USDA
Life cycleThe life of Sweet Pea 'Sicilian Pink' (Lathyrus odoratus 'Sicilian Pink') begins with seed germination, which occurs in late winter or early spring when temperatures are cool. The seeds sprout into seedlings, which develop true leaves and gradually establish a strong root system. As the plant matures, it develops climbing stems and foliage, which require support to twine around for vertical growth. Flowering typically happens in late spring to summer, producing fragrant pink flowers that are attractive to pollinators. After pollination, the flowers develop into pods containing seeds, which mature and eventually dry out. Once the seeds are released, the parent plant eventually dies back, completing its annual life cycle, though some plants can exhibit biennial tendencies with proper care.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Early Summer
Sweet pea 'Sicilian Pink' is predominantly propagated by seed, and it's best to sow sweet pea seeds in late winter or early spring. To aid germination, you can soften the seed coat by nicking it with a knife or soaking the seeds in water overnight. When sowing, place the seeds about 1 inch deep in pots or trays filled with good quality, well-draining potting soil. It is recommended to use biodegradable pots to reduce root disturbance when transplanting. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged and place the pots in a bright area with temperatures around 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 18 degrees Celsius). Germination typically occurs in 10 to 14 days. After the last frost, seedlings can be transplanted into the garden, spaced around 5 to 7 inches apart to ensure ample growing space.
