Sweet Pea Varieties: Best Ones to Grow

Choosing the right sweet pea variety is the first step to a successful growing season. From stunning colors to enchanting fragrances, each variety offers something different. Some varieties of sweet peas thrive in cooler climates, while others are better suited to hot summers. In this post, I’ll share tips to help you choose the best sweet pea variety for your climate and preferences so you can enjoy their beauty and fragrance in your garden.

Best Sweet Pea Varieties Index:

• Understanding Sweet Pea Varieties
• Varieties for Mild Summer Areas
• Best Varieties for Hot Summer Areas
• Sweet Peas that Grow Well in Most Climates
• Best Types for Containers
• Highly Scented Sweet Peas
• Best Sweet Pea Varieties for Cutting Flowers
• Everlasting Sweet Peas (Perennial Sweet Peas)

Understanding Sweet Pea Varieties

Sweet peas come in many fragrances, sizes, and colors. Some varieties are more fragrant than others, and many are sensitive to day length, which can affect their growth. Choosing the correct type of sweet peas is essential to ensure success in your garden.

You can read my complete guide to growing sweet peas here. Read this article if you’re looking for tips for growing sweet peas as a cut flower.

Varieties for Mild Summer Areas

You can grow traditional, long-flowering sweet peas with excellent fragrance in areas with cooler, mild summers. Here are a few top picks for these regions:

• ‘Saltwater Taffy Swirls’: Known for its soft pastel colors and sweet scent.
• ‘Spencer Mix’: A classic variety with large, ruffled blooms and strong stems; perfect for cutting.

Best Varieties for Hot Summer Areas

If you live in a region with hot summers, like the low desert of Arizona, you’ll want to choose heat-tolerant sweet pea varieties that bloom earlier in the season and tolerate higher temperatures.

• ‘Perfume Delight’: Specially bred for hot climates, this variety offers excellent fragrance even in the heat.
• ‘Jewels of Albion’: An excellent choice for warm areas, known for its rich jewel-toned colors and durability in high temperatures.

Sweet Peas that Grow Well in Most Climates

Not sure which one to choose? These sweet pea varieties are versatile and can grow well in various climates.

• ‘Chiffon Elegance’: With delicate, chiffon-like blooms, this variety is both beautiful and hardy.
• ‘Velvet Elegance’: Known for its rich, velvety blooms in deep colors, this variety performs well across various growing conditions.

Best Varieties for Containers

If you’re short on space or prefer to grow sweet peas in containers, these shorter sweet pea varieties are perfect for containers or hanging baskets.

• ‘Knee High’: A dwarf variety that stays compact and produces a bounty of blooms.
• ‘Windowbox’: Another great option for container gardening. This variety offers a shorter height and manageable growth.

Highly Scented Sweet Peas

If fragrance is your priority, these sweet pea varieties are known for their strong and sweet scent. These varieties will fill your garden and home with their unforgettable perfume.

• ‘Zinfandel’: With its deep, rich burgundy flowers, Zinfandel looks luxurious and carries a powerful fragrance.
• ‘April in Paris’: A classic variety with creamy white petals tinged with lavender. It’s highly fragrant and perfect for a scented garden.
• ‘Raspberry Twirl’: This bi-color beauty has striking raspberry and white blooms and a strong, sweet scent.
• ‘Strawberry Fields’: Known for its pink and red blooms, this variety is visually stunning and wonderfully fragrant.

Best Sweet Peas for Cutting Flowers

If you’re growing sweet peas to enjoy as cut flowers, these varieties are perfect for bouquets. They offer long, strong stems and beautiful blooms that will last in a vase.

• ‘North Shore’: This variety has large blooms and long stems, perfect for cutting and making a statement in any bouquet.
• ‘Blue Celeste’: Known for its delicate blue color, this variety produces long stems and is perfect for cutting.
• ‘Royal Wedding’: A white-flowered sweet pea with a gentle fragrance, its long stems and striking appearance make it ideal for floral arrangements.

Everlasting Sweet Peas (Perennial Sweet Peas)

Everlasting sweet peas, also known as perennial sweet peas (Lathyrus latifolius), are a great option for gardeners in hot summer areas. Unlike annual sweet peas, which often fade when the temperatures rise, everlasting sweet peas can bloom longer into the season. Unfortunately, the blooms don’t last all summer for me here in Arizona, but they last until about June; other types generally finish up by the end of April here in the low desert.

Get perennial sweet pea seeds here.

They often act as perennials in cooler climates, returning year after year with little effort. Unlike many annual sweet peas, perennial varieties typically do not have a strong fragrance. However, their beauty and hardiness more than make up for it.

Whether growing in a hot desert climate or a mild summer garden, there’s a sweet pea variety for you. Once you’ve selected the right type, you’ll be one step closer to enjoying these beautiful blooms in your garden and vase.

Want to add more color to your garden with flowers?

Arizona annual flowers planting guide helps you learn when to plant flowers in Arizona, and whether to plant seeds or transplants.

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