Annual twining climber with paired pinnate leaflets, terminal tendrils, and stems of fragrant pea-flowers in almost every colour through summer. The classic British cottage-garden cut-flower annual.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 2–11 | −45.6 °C to 10 °C | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
| RHS hardiness rating | H3 | −5 °C to 1 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 2–9 | −40 °C and warmer | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–7 | −15 °C and warmer | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
As a tender annual, Sweet pea doesn't overwinter — the zone range shows where the growing season supports it. See the RHS rating for its actual cold tolerance.
Growing notes
- Plant against trellises, wigwams, and pea-sticks — among the most popular cut flowers of summer, lasts well in the vase
- Strongly fragrant — choose old-fashioned cultivars (‘Cupani’, ‘Painted Lady’) for the strongest scent, modern Spencer cultivars trade fragrance for flower size
- Sow autumn for the earliest, longest, and most prolific flowering the following summer
Pet caution: Sweet pea is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.
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Related plants
Cross-check Sweet pea against your zones