Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit
An heirloom variety and one of the most fragrant sweet peas available, 'High Scent' Sweet Pea is an award-winning vining plant that grows to a mature height of 48 inches and blooms throughout summer in large, bicolored flowers having white petals with painterly purple edges. The fragrant blooms, borne in clusters on winged stems with paired leaflets, make excellent cut flowers for summer bouquetsand the more you cut, the more it blooms.
A Lathyrus odoratus variety, commonly called sweet pea, 'High Scent' (also known as 'April in Paris', 'King's High Scent', 'Hi-Scent', 'Brilliant Fragrance') has a vining habit of tendrilled, medium to dark green foliage. A cottage garden favorite, sweet peas can grow as a bushy mound or meander on the garden floor, but they're twining vines are best displayed supported on a trellis or fence. Vertical growth up a frame will also produce straighter stems for cut flowers. Use in beds or borders or as a privacy screen.
Direct sow 'High Scent' sweet pea seed after the last frost date, about mid-spring when the soil is warm. Sweet peas grow best in a sunny spot but tolerate some light shade, especially in hot summer climates, which can prove challenging for sweet pea plants. They prefer rich, well-draining soil that's cool and moist. They will go to seed faster in warm, dry soils. Mulch around the base of plants to maintain moisture levels and keep roots cool. Although sweet peas are low maintenance plants, deadheading spent flowers keeps sweat peas blooming and discourages unwanted self-seeding.
Grow your best sweet peas yet with tips from our Know Before You Grow page, packed with expert gardening advice. Don't forget to explore our Apps to Help You Grow and Answer Gardening Questions for added support throughout your sweet peas-growing journey.
