Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus 'Tahiti Sunrise'
ABOUT
The sweet pea variety known as 'Tahiti Sunrise' is renowned for its vibrant and attractive flowers. This variety typically boasts a striking mix of colors that can include intense oranges, deep pinks, and sometimes yellow hues, creating a warm and tropical appearance. The flowers are usually large and ruffled, adding to their visual appeal, and they possess a delightful fragrance, which is a signature characteristic of sweet peas. The leaves of 'Tahiti Sunrise' are a fresh, medium green shade, and they're arranged in pairs along the stems. The foliage provides a beautiful backdrop to the showy flowers. The stems are sturdy and are used for climbing, as sweet peas generally grow as climbing plants with a vining habit, requiring support to reach towards the light. Overall, the 'Tahiti Sunrise' sweet pea is a colorful and aromatic addition to any garden space, bringing both visual beauty and pleasing scents.
About this plant
NamesSynonyms
Sweet Pea, Everlasting Pea
Common names
Lathyrus odoratus
ToxicityTo humans
The common name of Lathyrus odoratus 'Tahiti Sunrise' is sweet pea. Sweet peas contain toxic amino acids, such as β-aminopropionitrile, which can cause a condition known as lathyrism if ingested in large quantities. Lathyrism is characterized by symptoms that may include weakness and paralysis of the lower extremities, hyperesthesia, and convulsions. Chronic exposure to the toxins can lead to more severe neurological damage, and in some cases, it can be fatal.
To pets
Sweet pea is toxic to pets, including dogs, cats, and horses. The toxicity arises from amino acids such as β-aminopropionitrile that can cause lathyrism. Symptoms of poisoning in pets may include lethargy, pacing, tremors, seizures, and possibly paralysis, if a significant amount of the plant is ingested. In severe cases, consumption can be fatal, so it is important to prevent pets from ingesting this plant.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Annuals
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Mixed
Height
6 feet (1.8 meters)
Spread
1 foot (0.3 meters)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
2
Native area
Mediterranean
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Adds vibrant color and beauty to gardens with its striking mix of orange and deep pink blossoms.
- Fragrance: Emits a sweet scent that can add a pleasant aroma to the area where it's planted.
- Climbing Growth: Ideal for vertical gardening, as it climbs trellises and fences, providing a natural, decorative screen.
- Attracts Pollinators: Serves as a food source for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, promoting biodiversity.
- Seasonal Interest: Offers seasonal charm with its summer-blooming nature in temperate climates.
- Easy to Grow: Known for being easy to cultivate, which makes it suitable for both experienced and novice gardeners.
- Cutting Garden Plant: Its flowers are excellent for cutting and creating indoor floral arrangements.
- Companion Planting: Can be used in companion planting to support the growth of vegetables and other garden plants.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- The sweet pea 'Tahiti Sunrise' can be used as a natural dye for fabrics, harnessing the pigments from the flowers to create soft hues and colors.
- As an educational tool in gardening workshops focusing on hybrid plants and breeding, this variety of sweet pea can serve as a live example due to its distinctive coloration.
- Its climbing nature allows it to be used for green fencing, providing both privacy and aesthetic appeal when trained over wire or trellises.
- This particular sweet pea can be employed in art projects, such as pressing the colorful flowers for inclusion in botanical prints or other artwork.
- The dried seed pods can be used for creating eco-friendly, biodegradable confetti for celebratory events like weddings.
- When included in sensory gardens, its intense fragrance can act as an olfactory stimulus helping visitors to connect with nature.
- The plant can be integrated into companion planting schemes to help repel certain pests and attract beneficial insects, due to its specific scent profile.
- As a decorative garnish for culinary presentations, its flowers can add vibrant color, but should not be consumed due to potential toxicity.
- Its signature scent can be captured and used in making homemade potpourris, providing a natural and long-lasting fragrance for homes.
- In photography and painting, the vibrant 'Tahiti Sunrise' variant offers striking subjects and inspiration for artists because of its dramatic color gradients and delicate forms.
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 in general, including the 'Tahiti Sunrise' variety, are often associated with pleasure and bliss, capturing the essence of a sweet and joyful experience.
- Goodbye and Departure: Because sweet peas have a short bloom time, they can symbolize farewells or goodbyes, acknowledging a temporary but memorable moment.
- Thank You: The sweet fragrance and delicate appearance of sweet peas make them a perfect symbol for expressing gratitude, often used to say 'thank you' for a lovely time or experience.
- Delicate Pleasure: With its soft petals and pleasant scent, the 'Tahiti Sunrise' sweet pea represents the beauty of delicate and subtle joys in life.
- Friendship: The attractive and endearing nature of sweet peas can be a symbol of friendship and the bond between companions.
WaterSweet peas, including the 'Tahiti Sunrise' variety, should be watered deeply but infrequently, ensuring the soil is kept moist but not waterlogged. During the active growing season, water them with about 1 gallon per plant per week, adjusting for rainfall. As flowering plants, they may need more frequent watering, especially in dry or hot weather, potentially increasing to twice a week. Be sure to water at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry and reduce the risk of disease.
LightSweet peas thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. For 'Tahiti Sunrise', plant in a spot where the plant will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Avoid placing them in areas that are shaded for most of the day, as too little light can reduce flowering and make the plants leggy.
TemperatureSweet peas, including 'Tahiti Sunrise', prefer cooler temperatures and will flourish in conditions ranging from 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit and can survive short periods of frost. They often struggle in high heat, above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if nighttime temperatures do not drop significantly.
PruningRegularly pruning sweet peas like 'Tahiti Sunrise' encourages bushier growth and more blooms. Pinch back the tips of the plants when they are 4 to 6 inches tall to promote branching. Deadhead spent flowers frequently to encourage continued blooming. The best time for significant pruning is early spring, just as new growth begins.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSweet Pea 'Tahiti Sunrise' thrives best in well-draining soil enriched with organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure. A slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal. A mix containing two parts garden soil, one part compost, and one part perlite or sand can ensure good drainage and fertility.
RepottingSweet Peas, including 'Tahiti Sunrise', typically do not require repotting as they are annuals. Plant new seeds each year in fresh soil to grow successive crops of this sweet-scented climber.
Humidity & MistingSweet Pea 'Tahiti Sunrise' prefers moderate humidity levels. Outdoor humidity usually suffices, but avoid overly wet conditions that promote fungal diseases.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Ensure full sun, support for climbing, and well-draining soil.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun, provide trellis for support, and keep soil moist.
Hardiness zone
2-11 USDA
Life cycleSweet pea 'Tahiti Sunrise' seed germination typically occurs in 10-21 days under ideal conditions of moisture and temperature, around 55-65°F (13-18°C). Following germination, seedlings develop their first true leaves and begin to grow rapidly, requiring ample light and proper support as they are climbing plants. The vegetative stage includes the development of a robust vine with compound leaves, tendrils for climbing, and extensive root systems. The flowering stage begins in early summer, showcasing the plant's striking, fragrant flowers with colors ranging from bright pink to orange. Pollination, often by bees and butterflies, leads to the formation of seed pods which mature, dry out, and eventually release seeds for the next generation. The plant's life cycle completes as it enters senescence in late summer or early fall, with the aboveground parts dying back after seed maturation, though it can be prolonged in mild climates or through gardeners' intervention by deadheading.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring
The Sweet Pea 'Tahiti Sunrise' is most commonly propagated through seeds. The best time to sow Sweet Pea seeds is either in late fall or early spring, depending on the local climate and the potential for a frost. To propagate, one first needs to nick the seed coat with a file or soak the seeds in water for 24 hours to enhance germination rates. Once prepared, sow the seeds about 1 inch (2.54 cm) deep in well-draining soil, spacing them approximately 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) apart, and ensure they have plenty of sunlight. Seedlings typically emerge within 10 to 21 days, after which they should be thinned if necessary and then trained onto a supportive structure as they grow, since Sweet Peas are climbing plants.
