Sweet Pea Spencer Princess Elisabeth

Sweet Pea Spencer Princess Elisabeth: variety and characteristics

Sweet Pea Spencer Princess Elisabeth (Lathyrus odoratus) is an annual flower of the legume family (Fabaceae). Sweet Pea Spencer Princess Elisabeth forms large, ruffled flowers with salmon-pink petals that fade to cream at the base.

They appear as small clusters on the slender stems throughout summer, with three to five flowers per stem and a light sweet fragrance that accentuates their delicate beauty.

The more you pick the flowers of this plant, the more it will flower.

Lathyrus (sweet pea) is the most fragrant climbing flower for cutting, with delicate butterfly-like blooms in pastel and rich tones. Spencer varieties have large, ruffled flowers on long stems.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 88%
• Seeds per packet: 8–12 pcs (0.8 g)
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: March and April; direct or as seedlings
• Flowering: June – September
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Sweet Pea Spencer Princess Elisabeth

Sweet Pea Spencer Princess Elisabeth seeds are sown in March and April. The plants flower from June to September. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Sweet Pea Spencer Princess Elisabeth

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 2–3 cm
• Spacing: 15–20 cm, up to a support 1.5–2 m
• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–18 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Sow in the soil outdoors from mid-March to early April. Sow 5 to 8 cm apart, about 3 to 5 cm deep. Sow indoors in late autumn to early winter in pots or containers. Flowering occurs from late spring to early autumn.

Soak the seeds for 12–24 hours or nick the seed coat. Sow early: in autumn or in February–April; sweet peas like cool conditions at the start. Pinch out the tip at 3–4 pairs of leaves to encourage branching.

Flowering and uses

Cut the flowers every day or two: the more you cut, the more it flowers. The seeds are not edible.

Frequently asked questions

When should Sweet Pea Spencer Princess Elisabeth be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March and April. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 8–12 seeds, pack size 0.8 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 88%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

Why should sweet peas be soaked before sowing?

The seed coat is hard; soaking for 12–24 hours speeds up germination.

Is lathyrus (sweet pea) edible?

No: unlike the garden pea, the seeds and pods of sweet pea are poisonous.