Sweet Pea ‘Azureus’

Lathyrus sativus

Features

  • Cut-and-come-again
  • Foliage & Filler
  • Toxic
  • Vine

Description

Long, vining stems are smothered in miniature cobalt-blue pea-shaped flowers with dark gray streaking on the backs of the petals. While individual flowers are too short for cutting, full vining stems look incredible woven into flower arrangements. While the flowers don’t have any fragrance, they are worth growing for their unusual coloring and ability to double as a foliage.

Please note: Unlike garden peas, sweet pea seeds are poisonous if ingested. Use caution around children and pets.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 36 to 48 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 60 to 75 days
Plant spacing: 8 in
Pinch: when 4 to 6 in tall

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

In mild areas, seed can be sown in pots in the fall, overwintered in a sheltered spot, and planted out in spring. Everywhere else, sow seed 10 to 12 weeks before last frost and transplant out right around last frost. Provide a strong trellis or support for vines to climb.

Harvesting/Vase Life

While flowers are beautiful, their stems are so short that they are not typically grown as a cut flower. Instead of harvesting individual blooms, harvest entire vining stems. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.

Details

Description

Long, vining stems are smothered in miniature cobalt-blue pea-shaped flowers with dark gray streaking on the backs of the petals. While individual flowers are too short for cutting, full vining stems look incredible woven into flower arrangements. While the flowers don’t have any fragrance, they are worth growing for their unusual coloring and ability to double as a foliage.

Please note: Unlike garden peas, sweet pea seeds are poisonous if ingested. Use caution around children and pets.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 36 to 48 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 60 to 75 days
Plant spacing: 8 in
Pinch: when 4 to 6 in tall

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

In mild areas, seed can be sown in pots in the fall, overwintered in a sheltered spot, and planted out in spring. Everywhere else, sow seed 10 to 12 weeks before last frost and transplant out right around last frost. Provide a strong trellis or support for vines to climb.

Harvesting/Vase Life

While flowers are beautiful, their stems are so short that they are not typically grown as a cut flower. Instead of harvesting individual blooms, harvest entire vining stems. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.

Sources

How to Grow

Seed-Saving Mini Course

Learn how to save seed from zinnia, dahlia, and celosia

In our upcoming free, three-part video series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to save seeds on a home scale, including how plants are pollinated and isolation techniques to ensure varieties come back true, how to tell when plants are ready to pick and how to harvest the seeds, and how to properly dry, clean, and store seeds long term.