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Flower profile

Sweetpea

Quick facts

Botanical name: Lathyrus odoratus. In SAF's language of flowers, sweetpea means shyness.

Sweetpea at a glance

Meaning
shyness
Colors
  • Pink
  • Lavender
  • Purple
  • White
  • Red
  • Peach
  • Bicolor
Vase life
About 5 days.
Season
Spring to early summer; a spring specialty cut flower.
Special care
Buy stems with about half the florets open. Keep away from ripening fruit - sweet peas are ethylene-sensitive. Re-cut and use flower food; keep cool and change water daily.
Size
A cool-season climbing annual with ruffled, butterfly-shaped flowers 1 to 3 inches across in clusters on slender stems, famous for its fragrance
Also called
Sweet pea, Annual sweet pea

Pet safety

ASPCA lists sweet pea as non-toxic to dogs and cats but toxic to horses; NC State notes the seeds are poisonous if eaten.

About sweetpeas

A cool-season climbing annual with ruffled, butterfly-shaped flowers 1 to 3 inches across in clusters on slender stems, famous for its fragrance. Comes in every color but yellow.

How to make sweetpeas last

  1. Keep them cool until they are in water. Keep your flowers in a cool place until you can get them into a flower food solution.
  2. Fill a clean vase with water and flower food. Use a clean, deep vase and add the flower food from your florist, following the mixing directions on the packet.
  3. Remove leaves below the waterline. Leaves in water promote bacterial growth that can limit water uptake by the flower.
  4. Re-cut the stems. Remove one to two inches with a sharp knife or clippers that will not crush the stems, then place the flowers straight into the vase.
  5. For sweetpeas. Buy stems with about half the florets open. Keep away from ripening fruit - sweet peas are ethylene-sensitive. Re-cut and use flower food; keep cool and change water daily.
  6. Keep them in a cool spot. 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents and ceiling fans.

Care steps from SAF’s flower care tips. More flower care tips →

Questions about sweetpeas

What does the sweetpea mean?

In the traditional language of flowers, the sweetpea stands for "shyness".

What colors do sweetpeas come in?

Sweetpeas come in pink, lavender, purple, white, red, peach and bicolor.

How long do sweetpeas last in a vase?

About 5 days. Re-cut the stems, use the flower food from your florist and keep the vase cool and out of direct sun to get the most days.

How do you care for sweetpeas?

Keep sweetpeas cool until they are in water, use a clean vase with flower food, remove any leaves below the waterline, re-cut the stems by one to two inches and keep the vase at 65 to 72 degrees, away from direct sunlight and vents. For sweetpeas: Buy stems with about half the florets open. Keep away from ripening fruit - sweet peas are ethylene-sensitive. Re-cut and use flower food; keep cool and change water daily.

Are sweetpeas safe around pets?

ASPCA lists sweet pea as non-toxic to dogs and cats but toxic to horses; NC State notes the seeds are poisonous if eaten.

Where can I buy sweetpeas?

From a local SAF member florist. Enter the recipient's ZIP code on this page to find florists near them.

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