Sweet peas

Book Review: Lathyrus - The Complete Guide

Lathyrus latfolius 'Blushing Bride'
Lathyrus latifolius is one of the most popular of hardy perennial Lathyrus species. This is 'Blushing Bride'.

This is the first book to cover the whole of the genus Lathyrus, and not focus only on sweet peas. And a very fine piece of work it is.

Lathyrus: The Complete Guide, by Greg Kenicer and Roger Parsons, Plant Heritage National Collection holders, is indeed comprehensive. It covers all 150 Lathyrus species, 1,200 cultivars, and there’s also a directory of 450 breeders and companies associated with Lathyrus and this fat 500 page book is gloriously illustrated throughout.

Everything from the evolutionary origins of Lathyrus to recent taxonomic revisions are discussed, and the latest classification is clearly set out with the genus presented in its constituent groups so that relationships between species are easy to understand.

Many unfamiliar species are included, those of horticultural interest or potential being given more space than the less noteworthy species. Following the latest research, the garden pea, formerly Pisum sativum, is now included in Lathyrus as L. oleraceus. However, with differences in opinion between the botanic community and the agricultural community this may not prove to be the last word on the subject. However, the authors have taken the wise decision not to list or illustrate the many many garden pea cultivars.

Lathyrus-The-Complete-Guide-FullCover900As with other books in this impressive series, discussion of the cultivars is separated from descriptions of the parent species and there is also an extensive table usefully summarising the features of all the cultivars discussed – as well as a separate descriptive list of almost all the cultivars offered for sale in the last five years. This results in entries for many cultivars in three different places. Personally, I find this irritating but I can see that this approach combines comprehensiveness with an economy of space.

The book is, of course, dominated by the sweet pea with detailed discussions on its origins and recent development and with hints of interesting hybrids on the way. The whole story is clearly set out, bringing in detail of developments around the world to provide a full picture.

In spite of the technical nature of some of the material the book is an easy read, elegantly laid out and the photography ensures that even the less flamboyant species look tempting.

This impressive new work clearly relegates my own book on sweet peas to a dusty corner of the bookshelf!

“An elegantly presented, comprehensive and accessible presentation of everything you’d want to know about sweet peas and their annual and perennial relations.”

Lathyrus: The Complete Guide by Greg Kenicer and Roger Parsons is a Royal Horticultural Society Monograph. £40.

Others in the Royal Horticultural Society Monograph are: Colchicum, Hedera, Kniphofia and Wisteria.

Order Lathyrus: The Complete Guide for delivery in Britain from the RHS.

Order Lathyrus: The Complete Guide for delivery in Britain and around the world from the Natural History Book Service.

Order Lathyrus: The Complete Guide for delivery in Britain and around the world from Summerfield Books.


Trialling New Zealand sweet peas

Sweet peas (l-r) 'Bix', 'Pink Nines' and ‘Enchanté’
Sweet peas (l-r) 'Bix', 'Pink Nines' and ‘Enchanté’

Dr. Keith Hammett is the world’s leading sweet pea breeder. I’ve always been a big fan of his varieties, and he’s made so many important steps forward including integrating the most recently discovered species – the red and yellow Lathyrus belinensis - into his breeding work.

This year I trialled seven of his varieties, some of which I’ve never grown before, and I was especially pleased with four of them. Just to be clear, seed was sown in late winter, they were grown in ordinary garden conditions, on a wigwam of bamboo canes, in a corner of the cutting garden just round the corner from here at boutique florist Foxtail Lilly.

‘Bix’
This has been outstanding, not so much for its productivity but for its wonderful cream colouring with the strong rose pink picotee.

‘Enchanté’
One of the few tri-coloured sweet peas, with pale cherry red standards, white at the base, and pale mauve-blue wings opening from yellow buds. A delightful soft combination.

‘Enigma’
I was really looking forward to the vertical magenta-pink stripe through each pale pink standard but found it much less clear than I expected. I’ll give it another try next year, in better conditions.

‘Nuance’
This is a two-tone pink with darker standard and paler wings, very pretty but not as striking as I’d expected.

‘Pink Nines’
Nine flowers per stem – yes really! I loved this for the long life of each stem, provided by its eight or nine flowers. We need this in other colours.

‘Route 66’
Gorgeous, nicely frilled, pink and white bicolour that was taller and more vigorous than any other sweet pea in the cutting garden. ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ is similar, but bright red and white.

‘Turquoise Lagoon’
An extraordinary combination of pinkish mauve maturing into soft turquoise blue. Very pretty in posies with pinks.

I’ll definitely be growing ‘Bix', ‘Enchanté’, 'Pink Nines’ and ‘Route 66’ again, and I suspect that the others would be more effective with better treatment.

Sadly, since Brexit, Keith is unable to send seed from New Zealand to the UK. However, many of his varieties are available in the UK from English Sweet Peas and from Mr Fothergill’s. In North America try Sweet Pea Gardens.

And you can find out more about Keith’s sweet peas here.

Over at the award-winning Blackberry Garden blog, my friend Alison Levey has also been growing these sweet peas from New Zealand. Check out her report here.

I’m still waiting for my copy of the new RHS monograph on Lathyrus by Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, botanist Greg Kenicer and Plant Heritage National Collection holder Roger Parsons. Of course, it includes sweet peas. When it finally arrives, I’ll be discussing it here… It's arrived! It looks stupendous. Review coming...


Everlasting pea: an undervalued garden climber

Lathyrus latifolius 'Rosa Perle', as grown at East lambrook Manor in Somerset many years ago. Image © GardenPhotos.comSometimes, people ignore plants simply because they're common. We see them all the time, even growing by the side of the road, and they sink into our subconscious and simply fail to emerge.

What is sometimes called the perennial sweet pea, or everlasting pea, is a case in point. Lathyrus latifolius is easy to grow, we see patches thriving along sunny roadsides in Britain and in North America, and in gardens it may annoy us as it can be uncomfortably vigorous. But it’s very colourful, very productive, clings to fences or shrubs with its tendrils and is a splendid long lasting cut flower. If it were scented there’d be hundreds of varieties.

It’s been used to control erosion in North America, and its ability to prevent the germination and development of shrubs has led to its planting along utility lines to ensure access remains unblocked by shrubby growth. A variety has even been developed, ‘Lancer’, specifically for practical use. It grows more upright than others, has superior seedling vigor, is a good seed producer and also has a better blend of colours than other mixtures.

In a few parts of the US it’s seen as a noxious weed but, on the other hand, the United States Department of Agriculture provides detailed instructions on how best to sow it and grow it when using it for erosion control etc.

In gardens it can be quite a spectacle, and is lovely clinging to a rustic fence or to a robust old shrub rose (right, click to enlarge). Lathyrus latifolius 'Blushing Bride' with the rose 'Suffolk', also known as 'Bassino'. Image © GardenPhotos.comThere are three basic color forms – magenta, pale pink and white – but, in his book on sweet peas, Roger Parsons lists ten varieties (plus a number of synonyms) although the names are not now applied with much care or precision, especially with regard to flower size. But look for ‘Blushing Bride’ (blushed white), ‘Rosa Perle’ (pink, above - click to enlarge), ‘Red Pearl’ (magenta) and ‘White Pearl’ (white). And if you come across ‘Wendy’s Joy’, with mauve flowers, grow it and pass it round – although dividing the root is the only way to be sure it stays true.

Lathyrus latifolius also makes a long lasting cut flower, with up to a dozen flowers on a spike, and is valuable in itself and also to fill out bunches of scented sweet peas. The challenge is to control the vigor of the beast and encourage it to produce long stems. Training the stems on wires does the trick and tends to create long straight flower stems which are easy to reach for picking.

So next time you notice Lathyrus latifolius flowering by the side of the road (as in Suffolk in eastern England, below, click to enlarge) remember what a fine garden plant it is and look out for the best varieties.

Lathyrus latifolius growing by the roadside in Suffolk, England. Image © GardenPhotos.com



British sweet peas for American gardeners

More Scent': probably the best scented sweet pea of all. Image © Keith Hammett
A month or two back I discussed American varieties of tomatoes that British gardeners can order from across the Atlantic. Time now to return the favor, and point out the British sweet pea specialists who will send sweet pea seed across to gardeners in North America. Many will only send to Europe.

But first, it’s only fair to point out that there are two US-based sweet pea specialists. Sweet Pea Gardens in Maine, who I visited when working on my book on sweet peas, have a good range. Enchanting Sweet Peas in California also specialize in sweet peas. Also, Renee’s Garden in California has listed a good range for many years, along with seed many other fine flowers.

So, I’ve checked all the British mail order sweet pea suppliers and these five specialists will send seed to North America and also have easy online ordering.

Eagle Sweet Peas
Carefully chosen Spencer varieties for the gardener and exhibitor, including a steady flow of varieties raised by at the nursery.

English Sweet Peas
One of the largest wholesale suppliers of sweet pea seed to retailers, they also have their own online retail site listing a large range of old-fashioned, modern Spencers and dwarf types.

Kings Seeds
Founded in 1888, they list a fine range of varieties although the website is a little clunky and old-fashioned.

Matthewman’s Sweet Peas 'Clementine Kiss': a uniquely orange sweet pea developed by Dave Matthewman. Image © Matthewman's Sweet Peas
Thirteen consecutive Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, focusing on high quality Spencer sweet peas for the garden and showbench – including some excellent varieties that Dave Matthewman has raised himself such as 'Clementine Kiss' (right, click to enlarge).

Owl’s Acre Sweet Peas
I discussed Owl’s Acre in an earlier post and, in particular, their series of dwarf varieties for container. They also list a wide range of old-fashioned types, modern Spencer types and winter-flowering varieties.

A number of other suppliers are worth considering, but do not have online ordering; they need you to download and print an order form and send it in by mail.

Kerton Sweet Peas
Carefully chosen Spencer varieties for the gardener and exhibitor, including varieties raised by at the nursery.

'Deborah Devonshire': a lovely picotee sweet pea from Myers Sweet Peas. Image © Myers Sweet PeasMyers Sweet Peas
Carefully selected Spencer varieties for the gardener and exhibitor, including varieties raised by at the nursery including 'Deborah Devonshire' (left, click to enlarge), and some old-fashioned types.

Roger Parsons Sweet Peas
Large range of all kinds from the holder of Britain’s Plant Heritage National Collection of Sweet Peas (and other Lathyrus species)

Somerset Sweet Peas
Carefully chosen Spencer varieties for the gardener and exhibitor, including a fine selection of exceptional varieties developed by Keith Hammett including 'More Scent' (top, click to enlarge).

So many superb sweet peas, and some excellent, dependable British suppliers. And of course British gardeners can enjoy them too.