Sweet Pea ‘Sylvestris’
Lathyrus sylvestris
Description
This perennial sweet pea has vigorous, scrambling vines smothered in small clusters of dusty-mauve flowers with a smoky-lavender throat. The unique color combination gives flowers an almost metallic quality. While the flowers don’t have much fragrance, and their stems are on the shorter side, 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: perennial
Height: 6 to 8 ft
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 18 to 36 in
Pinch: not necessary
Height: 6 to 8 ft
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 18 to 36 in
Pinch: not necessary
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
This perennial sweet pea has vigorous, scrambling vines smothered in small clusters of dusty-mauve flowers with a smoky-lavender throat. The unique color combination gives flowers an almost metallic quality. While the flowers don’t have much fragrance, and their stems are on the shorter side, 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: perennial
Height: 6 to 8 ft
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 18 to 36 in
Pinch: not necessary
Height: 6 to 8 ft
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 18 to 36 in
Pinch: not necessary
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
Sources
How to Grow
Seed-Saving Mini Course
Learn how to save seed from zinnia, dahlia, and celosia
In our 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.
