Sweet Pea ‘Mrs. R. Penney’

Lathyrus annuus

Features

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

Description

We saw this variety at a garden show in England and it stopped me dead in my tracks. Long, grass-like foliage is topped with glowing salmon-orange flowers. While similar to ‘Hotham Red’, ‘Mrs R Penney’ has larger blooms that are more orange in color. While the flowers don’t have any fragrance, they are worth growing for their unusual coloring and ability to double as a foliage. Their adorable tendrils add the most magical touch to arrangements. This plant is wonderful in the garden and also suitable for containers.

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

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 48 in
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

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

We saw this variety at a garden show in England and it stopped me dead in my tracks. Long, grass-like foliage is topped with glowing salmon-orange flowers. While similar to ‘Hotham Red’, ‘Mrs R Penney’ has larger blooms that are more orange in color. While the flowers don’t have any fragrance, they are worth growing for their unusual coloring and ability to double as a foliage. Their adorable tendrils add the most magical touch to arrangements. This plant is wonderful in the garden and also suitable for containers.

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

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 48 in
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

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

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.