The Suave
I never got the scented sweet peas, or maybe they’re too subtle for me. Sweet peas belong to the category of fragrant blooms that hide their scent up close.
Theirs is the kind of perfume carried on the breeze, seemingly of no clear origin, a characteristic they share with other elusive, but heavenly fragrances – the scent of tree blossoms, mock orange, early pollen, viburnum, sweet alyssum and nicotiana.
Sweet peas are annuals and as such should be fairly easy to grow, but you have to have the right climate for them, otherwise they will not thrive. It appears they’re the kind of quirky plants that frustrate gardeners: you either get them, in which case you’ll be awash in bloom and fragrance, or you don’t. No comment on the second option.
Despite belonging to a family that prides itself on making its own nitrogen, sweet peas are heavy feeders; they like cold but sunny weather and can’t handle droughts. If you live in a climate warmer than zone 7, they’ll be happy to grow in your winter garden.
The scent of sweet peas is best enjoyed on a dry sunny day, and it’s been described by those fortunate enough to experience it as an old-fashioned blend of orange blossoms, jasmine and honey.
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