The seed that started the “Seed Savers Exchange” in 1972. This flower is an old Bavarian variety whose blooms seem to glow; they are a beautiful deep purple with a red throat. The vines grow to 15’, and the plant self-seeds.
First introduced in the U.S. around 1896, 'America' sports bright red flowers with white striations. Extremely fragrant.
Bred by Eckford in 1889, this variety is a beautiful mauve-blue colour.
The original cultivated sweet pea, grown by an English schoolmaster from seed sent to him by Father Cupani, a Sicilian monk. Extremely fragrant, it bears beautiful mauve & maroon flowers on a 4’ vine. Rare.
Named after the granddaughter of Henry Eckford, the well-known Sweet Pea breeder of the early 1900's, this variety produces highly-fragrant, pure white blossoms.
Introduced by Morse-Vaughan in 1904, this cultivar sports beautiful, clear-blue flowers. Combines well with darker-coloured sweet peas.
Breathtaking, bright crimson flowers. Introduced in 1903.
First introduced in 1907, this is a deep navy blue variety.
Cultivated since the early 18th C., this 4' vine produces very fragrant, red-and-white bi-coloured blooms. This was the first bi-coloured sweet pea available to gardeners. Very fragrant.
This lovely little cottage garden favourite grows to just 6”, and is wonderful for the front of the border. All summer it is smothered with delicate white-and-yellow cup-shaped flowers that are lightly scented. Sun.
Originally from North Africa, this dainty beauty has been cultivated in North America as an annual since at least 1880, and was a Victorian favourite. Brilliant deep-scarlet flowers bloom continuously all summer over dainty foliage, 18" high. Sun.
The classic border edging that was a cottage garden staple, alyssum blooms quickly from seed and, if sheared back when the blossoms die, will produce another round of bloom in the season. Its common name refers to its honey scent. Cottagers would let it self-seed freely, which it loves to do, and grow where it wanted in the garden. Produces a frothy profusion of tiny white flowers all summer long. Grows to 4-5" and likes sun or part shade and poor soil. Too rich a soil will give you lots of foliage but fewer flowers.
A North-American native, it is perennial in its native Texas, but grown as an annual here. Growing to 2’, it produces spikes of colourful blue and white sweet-pea like flowers in early summer. Prefers loose, sandy soil. Sun
1942. A spectacular Mallow, with large, vivid rose-mauve flowers, loosely doubled and deeply veined. Grows to 6' in full sun. Never fails to invoke praise from visitors to the garden.
Said to be a "nondescript" flower to look at during the day, although I find it enchanting en masse, it releases a heavenly perfume in the evening. Also called "Melancholy Gilliflower", because of its "sad demeanour" during the day, at night its sweet fragrance is so great "as will cause you literally to take root beside it." (Louise Beebe Wilder). Sow this plant liberally about your garden, especially along paths or near entrances. Self-sows. Sun/pt shade.
