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Sweet peas for scent

debs64debs64 Posts: 4,916
Hi all, planning lots of sweet peas for next year so want advice on the best ones for scent. Hope you can help. 
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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,307
    I've grown sweet peas for 50+ yrs.
    The strongest and loveliest scent (in my opinion) is from High Scent.
    A small bunch fills the house with a delicious perfume
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,932
    I've stopped picking the sweet peas for the house this year ... the perfume was so strong that I became quite 'headachey' within twenty minutes of them coming into the house .... I tried again a week later but exactly the same thing happened.  The perfume is gorgeous but very strong ... OH doesn't find a problem with them but I can be quite sinusy so presumably that's why I'm susceptible to them.  Lilies can do the same thing to me.

    I've no idea of the variety ... they came as some little plants from a nursery in S. Lincs and were described as 'Old fashioned mixed' or something like that. 

    Other years I've sown my own seed of varieties described as having a good perfume, but none have been as strong as these. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    I think cupari is very strong. I didn't plant it this year and I miss it.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,932
    Some of the flowers in the mix I have could well be Cupani ...

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    I can't abide the overwhelming scent of some lilies.
  • I agree with High Scent. White with a delicate pink edge. The old fashioned Spencer varieties have good perfume. Have you thought of buying your seed for next year from a sweetpea specialist breeder/grower. They do not work out much more than those bought in GCs and they give details of each individual variety. Sadly, the gentleman I used to buy my seed from in Ireland has retired and haven't tried anyone else yet.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,134
    I'd echo Cupani - it's beautiful, but a smaller flower and stem than most.
    I also grow  Cathy - which is a creamy white. Fabulous, and happy in shade. 
    I only grow darks or white/creams, but Beaujolais is also good. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 4,916
    Thanks so much I may look online for a specialist supplier and I will definitely be getting cupani. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,134
    Cupani is one of the oldest varieties Debs - and it's delightful   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ChrisWMChrisWM Posts: 214
    Mine is Matucana, and apparently, noted for its strong scent. 
    https://www.sarahraven.com/flowers/seeds/sweet_peas/lathyrus_odoratus_matucana.htm
    If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Cicero
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