Sweet Pea ‘Earl Grey’

Lathyrus odoratus

Features

  • Cut-and-come-again
  • Fragrant
  • Toxic
  • Vine

Description

This eye-catching bicolor variety bred by Dr. Keith Hammett has the most beautiful maroon-purple-flaked petals. Top petals are warm purple and bottom petals are a cooler purple, giving it depth and dimension. One of the best flake varieties available, ‘Earl Grey’ is a vigorous, heavy-flowering workhorse.

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

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 6 to 8 ft
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 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

Harvest when there are at least 2 unopened flowers at the tip of a stem. It’s especially important to use flower food. Expect a vase life of 4 to 5 days.

Details

Description

This eye-catching bicolor variety bred by Dr. Keith Hammett has the most beautiful maroon-purple-flaked petals. Top petals are warm purple and bottom petals are a cooler purple, giving it depth and dimension. One of the best flake varieties available, ‘Earl Grey’ is a vigorous, heavy-flowering workhorse.

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

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 6 to 8 ft
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 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

Harvest when there are at least 2 unopened flowers at the tip of a stem. It’s especially important to use flower food. Expect a vase life of 4 to 5 days.

Sources

How to Grow

Fall Mini Course

Learn how to successfully dig, divide & store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year

In our free, three-part video series, you’ll learn how and when to dig up your dahlia tuber clumps, how to divide dahlias to multiply your stock, and how to successfully store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year.