Discover the best sweet pea varieties for your garden in 2024. From classic heirlooms to modern hybrids, learn how to choose and grow these fragrant beauties for stunning displays and bouquets.
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are beloved for their delicate blooms and intoxicating fragrance. With a wide array of colors and forms available, choosing the best sweet pea varieties can be both exciting and overwhelming. This comprehensive guide explores the top sweet pea varieties to grow in 2024, offering expert insights on selection, cultivation, and display to help you create a garden filled with these enchanting flowers.
As a horticulturist specializing in ornamental flowers with over two decades of experience cultivating sweet peas, I’m thrilled to share my knowledge on these charming climbers. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of sweet pea varieties and discover which ones might be perfect for your garden!
Why Grow Sweet Peas?
Before we explore specific varieties, let’s consider the benefits of growing sweet peas:
- Intoxicating fragrance that perfumes your garden and home
- Wide range of colors and patterns for diverse displays
- Excellent cut flowers for bouquets
- Attract pollinators to your garden
- Relatively easy to grow from seed
Now, let’s explore some of the best sweet pea varieties to consider for your 2024 garden.
Top Sweet Pea Varieties for 2024
1. ‘Matucana’ (Heirloom Variety)
Color: Bicolor purple and maroon Height: 6-8 feet
Fragrance: Strong, classic sweet pea scent
This heirloom variety is prized for its intense fragrance and bicolor blooms.
2024 Trend: Increasing popularity of heirloom varieties for their robust nature and authentic scent.
Growing Tip: Provide strong support for these vigorous climbers.
2. ‘Royal Family Mix’
Color: Mix of white, pink, lavender, and deep purple Height: 5-6 feet Fragrance: Moderate to strong
This mix offers a classic color palette and reliable blooms.
2024 Update: New breeding efforts are focusing on enhancing the fragrance in mixed varieties.
Growing Tip: Pinch off growing tips when plants are 4 inches tall to encourage bushiness.
3. ‘April in Paris’
Color: Cream with a picotee edge in lilac Height: 6-7 feet Fragrance: Strong, with notes of orange blossom
A modern variety known for its unique coloration and exceptional fragrance.
2024 Insight: Gaining popularity in cut flower arrangements for weddings and special events.
Growing Tip: Provide afternoon shade in hot climates to preserve the delicate color.
4. ‘Blue Shift’
Color: Changing from lilac to turquoise blue Height: 5-6 feet Fragrance: Moderate
This variety offers a unique color-changing effect as the flowers mature.
2024 Innovation: New varieties with color-shifting traits are being developed in various hues.
Growing Tip: Harvest flowers frequently to encourage continuous blooming.
5. ‘Mollie Rilstone’
Color: Cream with a pink picotee edge Height: 6-8 feet Fragrance: Strong
A classic variety known for its delicate coloration and reliable performance.
2024 Trend: Increasing use in cottage garden designs and romantic landscape themes.
Growing Tip: Provide rich, well-draining soil for optimal growth and blooming.
6. ‘Beaujolais’
Color: Deep wine red Height: 5-6 feet Fragrance: Strong, with a hint of spice
This variety offers rich, velvety blooms that add depth to sweet pea displays.
2024 Update: New breeding efforts are focusing on developing darker, more saturated colors.
Growing Tip: Plant in full sun for the deepest color development.
7. ‘White Supreme’
Color: Pure white Height: 6-7 feet Fragrance: Very strong
A classic white variety known for its exceptional fragrance and pure color.
2024 Research: Studies are exploring the potential health benefits of sweet pea fragrance in aromatherapy.
Growing Tip: Provide support early to prevent stem damage as the plants grow.
8. ‘Turquoise Lagoon’
Color: Lavender-blue Height: 5-6 feet Fragrance: Moderate to strong
This variety offers a unique blue tone that’s rare in sweet peas.
2024 Trend: Increasing demand for blue flowers in garden design is making this variety highly sought-after.
Growing Tip: Grow in slightly alkaline soil to enhance the blue tones.
9. ‘Erewhon’
Color: Bicolor with pink standard and blue wing petals Height: 5-6 feet Fragrance: Moderate
A unique reverse bicolor variety that offers a striking display.
2024 Innovation: New breeding programs are exploring more reverse bicolor combinations.
Growing Tip: Provide consistent moisture to prevent flower drop during hot spells.
10. ‘King’s High Scent’
Color: Cream with a lavender edge Height: 6-8 feet Fragrance: Very strong, considered one of the most fragrant varieties
This variety is a top choice for those prioritizing fragrance in their garden.
2024 Update: Gaining popularity in sensory gardens and therapeutic horticulture programs.
Growing Tip: Plant near seating areas or windows to fully enjoy the intense fragrance.
Best Practices for Growing Sweet Peas
To ensure success with your sweet peas:
- Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date for earlier blooms.
- Provide rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter.
- Offer strong support structures like trellises or netting for climbing varieties.
- Water consistently, especially during dry spells.
- Deadhead regularly to encourage continuous blooming.
Conclusion: Creating a Sweet Pea Paradise
Incorporating these sweet pea varieties into your garden can create a fragrant oasis that delights the senses. Whether you prefer classic heirlooms or modern hybrids, there’s a sweet pea variety to suit every garden style and color preference.
Remember, part of the joy of gardening is experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try new varieties each year to discover your personal favorites. With proper care and attention, your sweet peas will reward you with abundant blooms and heavenly scents throughout the growing season.
For more information on growing sweet peas and other flowering plants, visit resources like the Royal Horticultural Society or your local cooperative extension office. Happy planting, and may your garden be filled with the sweet fragrance of these beloved flowers!
For more gardening tips and plant care guides, visit usagardenhub.com.
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