Lathyrus odoratus Leamington - Sweet pea

The Lathyrus odoratus 'Leamington' brings to the Spencer series sweet peas the delicate light lilac to purple colour of its large flowers. They are deliciously scented and bloom throughout the summer on their voluble stems that wrap and cling to any support with tendrils. Gathered in small bouquets, they are lovely in a vase. In the garden, this variety mixes with other sweet peas, cascading from hanging baskets or covering an unsightly fence or an old cabin with a multicoloured cloak. This annual is sown in spring and cultivated without difficulty in fertile and moist soil in the sun.

The Lathyrus odoratus is an annual herbaceous plant in the Fabaceae family, native to southeast Italy and Sicily. Climbing thanks to tendrils, the 'Leamington' variety can reach up to 2m (7ft) in height and 30cm (12in) in width in just a few months, depending on the growing conditions. Its leaves are arranged in pairs on quadrangular stems, with stipules at the base and extended into tendrils. Their colour is light green. Flowering occurs from June-July to August-September, depending on the sowing date. The papilionaceous flowers are large, grouped in axillary clusters carried by upright stems. They consist of 5 petals, with the upper one, which is also the largest, taking the form of a banner, while the others have an intermediate shape between the lip and the tube. They emit a delicate fragrance, with a sweet floral aroma with hints of honey and musk, very feminine. 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 irreplaceable; their touching and old-fashioned flowering brings a lot of charm to bouquets, hanging baskets, and any support they bravely cover in one season. Let them climb a fence, a small garden shed, or an old shed they will transform for the summer. They are charming in summer beds, supporting neighbouring plants or bushes. They can also form beautiful carpets by mixing colours. They are inseparable from cottage gardens, like peonies, hollyhocks, foxgloves, peach-leaved bellflowers, and columbines. They also thrive in the fertile and well-watered soil of the vegetable garden, where they provide a good supply of cut flowers.