Lathyrus odoratus grandiflora Tangerine Cream - Sweet pea

The Tangerine Cream sweet pea, also known as Lathyrus odoratus 'Tangerine Cream', is a selection of two fairly old varieties. These climbing vines are adorned with medium-sized flowers, combining the soft orange and salmon tones of the Prince of Orange variety with the creamy shade of Mrs Collier in a harmonious and vibrant combination. Not only elegant, these flowers also emit an intense and subtle fragrance. These annual climbers can create beautiful bouquets and stunning decorations in borders and containers. They should be grown in fertile and moist soil, in full sun.

Lathyrus odoratus is an annual herbaceous plant from the Fabaceae family, native to southeastern Italy and Sicily. Climbing thanks to tendrils, the plants in the 'Tangerine Cream' mix can reach a height of 1.80m (6ft) and a width of 30cm (12in) in just a few months. The leaves are paired on quadrangular stems, with stipules at the base and extended into tendrils. They are light green. Flowering occurs from June to August. The papilionaceous flowers are medium-sized and grouped in axillary clusters. The 'Prince of Orange' variety displays a soft orange colour, sometimes washed with pink, while 'Mrs Collier' is adorned with a very soft cream shade. The flowers consist of 5 petals, with the uppermost, also the largest, taking the form of a standard, while the others have an intermediate shape between the lip and the tube. They emit a delicate fragrance, with a sweet floral aroma and hints of honey and musk, very feminine. The fruit is a flat pod that twists to expel its seeds at a distance. It is essential to remove faded flowers, as seed production immediately stops flowering. Sweet peas root deeply in the soil to draw water and nutrients.

Sweet peas are irreplaceable; their touching and old-fashioned flowering brings a lot of charm to bouquets, hanging baskets, and any support they valiantly colonize in one season. They are charming in summer borders, supporting neighbouring plants or shrubs. They can also create beautiful carpets by mixing different colours. They are inseparable from cottage gardens, peonies, hollyhocks, foxgloves, peach-leaved bellflowers, and columbines. They can also be grown in fertile and irrigated soil in the vegetable garden, providing a good supply of cut flowers.