Lathyrus odoratus grandiflora Tickled Pink - Sweet pea

The Lathyrus odoratus grandiflora 'Tickled Pink' is one of those varieties of sweet peas that are highly sought after across the Channel. Romantic to the core, with a gentle fragrance, its large, undulating flowers display a somewhat old-fashioned pink color, quite difficult to define, a tender yet rich pink softened by a very soft, creamy green almond base. They are gathered in small clusters at the end of long stems, ideal for creating summer bouquets. Sweet peas are climbing annual plants that are easy to sow and cultivate in fertile, moist soil in the sun.

Lathyrus odoratus is an annual herbaceous plant in the legume family, native to southeastern Italy and Sicily. Climbing with tendrils, the Tickled Pink variety possesses the indefinable charm of exceptional varieties. It can reach a height of 1.80m (6ft) and a width of 30cm (12in) in just a few months. Its leaves are arranged in pairs on quadrangular stems, equipped with stipules at the base and extending into tendrils. They are light green in color. Flowering occurs from June to August. The butterfly-shaped flowers are large, grouped in axillary clusters at the end of thin, sturdy stems. The petals are highly undulated and combine various shades of pink, cream, and a touch of tender green. They consist of 5 petals, with the uppermost, and 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 and expels its seeds at a distance. It is essential to remove faded flowers, as seed production immediately stops flowering. Sweet peas root quite 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 bravely colonize in one season. They are just as charming in summer flowerbeds, using neighboring plants or bushes as support. They can also create beautiful carpets by mixing colors. They are inseparable from cottage gardens, like peonies, old-fashioned roses, foxgloves, peach-leaved bellflowers, and columbines. They also thrive in fertile, well-watered vegetable garden soil, where they provide a good supply of cut flowers.