How to Plant, Grow, and Care for ‘Perfume Delight’ Sweet Peas

‘Perfume Delight’ sweet peas have large, heavily fragrant flower spikes and attractive, soft green foliage. Just a few stems of these rainbow blossoms can fill an entire room with a nostalgic perfume.

Whether you have a decorative trellis or a knack for floral arrangements, you can easily grow these pretty flowers in your garden. 

What are ‘Perfume Delight’ Sweet Peas?

Sweet peas are members of the legume family known for their attractive and fragrant flowers. ‘Perfume Delight’ is a gorgeous heirloom blend beloved for a particularly intense and wonderful scent. The plants produce flowers in a wide variety of hues. In addition, they have better heat tolerance than other varieties, which means a longer bloom period in warm climates.

Sweet peas are cool-weather plants that tend to stop blooming as soon as temperatures begin to rise in the summer. With ‘Perfume Delight,’ you can enjoy the beauty and fragrance longer into the summer than the average cultivar. Let’s discuss growing and caring for these beautiful, showy garden flowers.

History

Sweet peas were first cultivated as garden flowers in the 1690s by Francisco Cupani, a Sicilian monastery gardener. Cupani decided to share his beloved sweet pea seeds with other like-minded plant lovers by sending seeds of different varieties to other gardeners he knew would enjoy growing the plants. 

In the late 1800’s, a Scotsman named Henry Eckford worked on improving the plants that were available at the time. His work led to plants with a wider array of colors, as well as larger and more fragrant flowers. 

But the most noteworthy achievement in sweet pea breeding was accomplished by Silas Cole, a gardener working for the family of (Princess) Diana Spencer. His plants, known as “Spencer” sweet peas, became known for extra large, fragrant flowers with eye-catching, ruffled petals.

Native Area

Sweet pea plants are native to southern regions of Italy and surrounding islands in the Mediterranean. They grow wild in Sicily, where they were first cultivated as garden flowers, as well as in the Aegean Islands and Malta.

There is speculation about their native appearance in China and Sri Lanka, but the plants were first recorded in Italy, so this is generally accepted as their native range.

Characteristics

‘Perfume Delight’ sweet peas are heirloom seeds, so they have been around for quite a while and have earned themselves a reputation for their wide array of colors and extra strong fragrance. They are of the “Spencer” type, with large flowers that have beautiful ruffled petals appearing in groups of five to ten blooms per stem. 

The variety includes flowers in shades of purple, red, rose, scarlet, white, blue, cream, and bicolor. These flowers grow on long, sturdy stems that make them great for cutting and using in floral arrangements. 

Central vining stems grow to five or six feet long and produce a great number of flowers over a series of several months, blooming later into the summer than other less heat-tolerant varieties. These climbing vines have curling tendrils that cling to whatever support they come in contact with. 

Uses

They are part of the Fabaceae (legume) family, but they are not the same as their edible relatives. These plants are toxic to eat and should be planted separately from the vegetable garden to avoid any confusion, as they form seed pods resembling edible types of peas. 

‘Perfume Delight’ sweet peas are grown for their ornamental value and use in floristry. They are a very popular flower for weddings because of their rich symbolism and wonderful fragrance. They are also nitrogen fixing, so they increase the nitrogen in the soil for future plants. 

Where to Buy ‘Perfume Delight’ Sweet peas

We recommend growing these pretty flowering vines from seed. They are available from many online retailers. Our favorites come from Botanical Interests.

Planting

These cool-weather plants perform best during the chilly parts of the year. They are winter-hardy in zone 7 and higher, and they are frost-tolerant, so they can planted in the fall in milder climates, allowing them to grow over the winter and bloom early in the spring. 

In cooler climates, plant your ‘Perfume Delight’ sweet pea seeds four to six weeks before your last anticipated frost date. In climate zones north of zone 7, they will bloom later in the spring and into the summer months. 

The preferred method of planting is direct sowing. Seeds should be planted in groups of three and six inches apart. Wait until seedlings are about three inches tall, and thin them to one plant every six inches. 

Germination takes between 10-21 days under ideal conditions. The most rapid and successful germination will take place when the soil is between 55-65°F (13-18°C). There is no evidence that sweet pea seeds benefit from soaking, but nicking the seeds lightly may speed germination. Lightly score the coat of seeds with a clean, sharp blade before planting.

How to Grow

The most important factor in successfully growing sweet peas is to adapt planting to your climate. Planting time depends on the region in which these seeds are planted, and their cool-weather growing habit needs to be accounted for. 

These vines are frost-tolerant, so if you live in a climate with hot summers, you should start your seeds in the fall to allow them the longest growth and blooming period. In cooler climates where the ground freezes, potentially harming seedlings, it is better to plant in late winter or early spring, or as soon as the soil is workable. 

Light

Sunlight is another factor that is governed by climate, as it can both extend or truncate the blooming habit of your sweet peas. In mild climates, planting in full sun will result in faster growth and more flowers. Six to eight hours of daily sun is ideal in these regions.

In warmer climates, plant your seeds in a space where they will receive some shade in the afternoon. This will help prolong the life of the plant, protecting the roots from the scorching afternoon heat. Sweet peas need moisture around their roots, and direct sun can cause the soil to dry out quickly. Partial shade in warmer climates can help keep the roots moist with less effort.

Water

These plants need a fair amount of water to grow and produce flowers. They do not, however, like wet feet. Watering habits and soil type directly impact moisture-loving plants. As long as they have proper drainage, you should water your young plants every one to two days and then twice a week once established. 

Keeping your plants well-watered is key in prolonging their bloom time. You may need to increase watering as the weather warms and the soil dries out faster. 

Soil

Soil composition is not of great importance, but drainage is. Clay soil that compacts easily may need to be amended with some compost or other organic material to improve drainage and prevent compaction. Loosening up the soil with a broadfork creates an environment that is more conducive to root development.

Sweet peas prefer fertile soil, so if you have sandy or poor soil, add in some compost or manure at the time of planting. This will boost the nutrient availability for an extended period. These plants prefer a neutral to slightly alkaline pH.

Temperature and Humidity

Sweet peas thrive in cooler temperatures. They do most of their growing when the temperature is between 32-60°F (0-16°C). The plants are moderately frost-tolerant, which is why they can be planted in the fall in mild climates.

This fall planting leads to a longer growing season and earlier blooms in the following year. This is ideal for warmer climates because hot weather arrives sooner in the spring, which forces these vines into dormancy.

These are moisture-loving plants, so it can be a challenge to grow them in arid regions. They are quite happy with higher humidity as long as there is proper air circulation to ward off fungal diseases. 

Fertilizing

At the time of planting, it’s a good idea to mix some compost or slow-release fertilizer into the soil. These plants like a lot of nutrients, but beware of high nitrogen formulas that will cause your plants to produce an excess of green growth with relatively few flowers. A fertilizer higher in potassium will boost blooms, especially when applied just as the plants are setting buds. 

Maintenance

‘Perfume Delight’ is a vining variety, which means they need to have some type of support. There are many different ways to trellis, some more cost-effective and others more ornamental. 

Trellising

A trellis or arbor will provide attractive support for your plants. One of the more creative and trendy ways to support vines is by creating a tipi with bamboo poles and wrapping them with wire or cord. The vines grow up the poles and along the cord, covering the structure and creating a living, flowering tipi. 

Pinching

For spring plantings, pinch the stems when the plant is young to promote branching, which will lead to more flowers. When the seedlings reach about six inches tall, pinch or clip off the top of the stem just above a set of leaves. The resulting growth will branch in two different directions. 

If your climate experiences freezing temperatures, avoid pinching fall-planted sweet peas. This could cause some of your plants to fail because it weakens the growing tips. The frost and thawing cycles will naturally have a “pinching” effect on overwintered plants.

Deadheading

The practice of deadheading is important, as they will go dormant much earlier if you allow them to go to seed. This is the most high-maintenance part of growing these flowers. Fortunately, deadheading yields more floral stems to bring indoors for vases and arrangements, which is one of the best things about growing these fragrant flowers. 

As the season nears its end, allow your sweet pea flowers to go to seed by leaving them on the plant. The seed pods will develop and dry out. You can leave them to self-sow or collect the pods and store in a cool, dry location for planting next season. 

Growing in Containers

These plants make good container plants as long as they have room for their roots to spread out.  These plants do not like to have their roots disturbed once they are established, so it’s best not to repot them. Choose a container that has plenty of space and is deep enough to accommodate the relatively deep root system. 

Make sure to give your potted, vining sweet peas a support to climb, or you could end up with some very floppy plants. A small trellis in the pot or setting the pot close to a structure will achieve the purpose. 

Propagation

These annual plants are best propagated by seed. After allowing your plants to go to seed, allow the pods to dry on the vine. When they are dry, collect the seeds and store them for replanting. Keep your seeds cool and dry while they are in storage. 

Common Problems

Humans aren’t the only living things that are attracted to the sweet fragrance of these flowers. In addition to pollinators that love the nectar, there are also some harmful insects that will come for your plants. As a result of their high moisture needs, these plants can also be susceptible to some diseases. 

Pests

Harmful insects like aphids, spider mites, and thrips are all attracted to ‘Perfume Delight’ sweet pea plants. These pests suck the sap from your plants, draining them of valuable nutrients needed for flowering, while leaving behind a nasty, sticky mess. 

The excrement left by these insects is called honeydew, and it is a perfect environment for fostering black sooty mold. This mold interferes with photosynthesis and leads to a very sad-looking plant.

Protect your plants by caring for them and fertilizing them so they can stand up to damage from pests. If you notice signs of pests, it is important to get rid of these insects or they will spread and cause more issues. I like to release ladybugs into my garden occasionally to help keep down the populations of harmful insects. Or blast the plants with water, killing smaller insects in the process.

Neem oil is another good treatment for wiping out harmful insects, but be careful about using this during the day, as it can be harmful to pollinators as well. If you feel you need to use it, apply it in the late afternoon and check that pollinators are not present so it has time to dry before they return the next day.

Diseases

Because of their high moisture needs, root and crown rot can be issues for sweet pea plants. These problems are best prevented by improving the drainage of your soil. Soil with poor drainage stays wet, creating an environment where mold and fungus can grow. 

Another fungal disease to be aware of is powdery mildew. This white fungus rows on the leaves of your plant, interfering with photosynthesis and harming the plant. Leaves may turn yellow or fall off entirely. Good air circulation is the best prevention for powdery mildew. 

There are a few viral diseases that can affect sweet peas as well. Sadly, viral diseases are not curable, but their spread is preventable. Mosaic viruses, an aphid-transmitted virus, and tomato spotted wilt occasionally occur. It is important to remove affected plants to avoid spreading the virus to other plants. Some viral infections remain in the soil and need to be solarized before planting in those areas in the future. 

Frequently Asked Questions