Lathyrus odoratus grandiflora Midnight - Sweet pea

The Lathyrus odoratus 'Midnight' is a very recent and rare variety of sweet peas, offering dark flowers, a deep reddish-brown that appears black in low light. These papilionaceous flowers are huge, almost twice the size of usual varieties, flowers that only lack fragrance. But this weakness is compensated by an extraordinary vigour, allowing it to cover large areas on the ground or vertically quickly. All these qualities make it a dark queen in annual climbing plants. Its long stems are suitable for making bouquets. Sow in spring, in fertile and moist soil, in the sun.

The Lathyrus odoratus is an annual herbaceous plant of the Fabaceae family native to southeastern Italy and Sicily. Climbing thanks to tendrils, the 'Midnight' variety can reach 2 to 2.50 metres (7 to 8 feet) in height and 30 cm (12in) in width in a few months. Its leaves are paired on quadrangular stems, equipped with stipules at the base and extended into tendrils. Their colour is light green. Flowering takes place from June to August. The papilionaceous flowers are huge, sometimes 5 cm (2in) wide, grouped in axillary clusters of up to 5 flowers with a dark violet background, touched with brown violet and sometimes a hint of pink. The very undulated petals further accentuate the nuances that the light imparts. The flowers are formed of 5 petals, with the upper one, which is also the largest, taking the form of a standard, while the others have an intermediate shape between the lip and the tube. The fruit is a flat pod that twists and expels its seeds at a distance. It is essential to remove faded flowers, as seed production immediately stops flowering. Sweet peas root deeply in the soil to draw water and nutrients.

Sweet peas are special and cannot be replaced. They have an old-fashioned look, and their flowers are beautiful in bouquets, hanging baskets, and any support they grow on. They also look great in summer borders among other plants. Sweet peas are versatile and can be mixed to create beautiful carpets with different colours. They are essential in cottage gardens, along with other plants such as peonies, roses, bellflowers, and columbines. You can also grow sweet peas in a vegetable garden, and they will provide you with plenty of cut flowers.