Variety field guide
What to expect from Bijou Mix Sweet Pea
Bijou Mix Sweet pea seeds produce mixed bloom on 13–18 in bush plants. Annual growth and Spring/Summer bloom make it useful for fragrant cut flowers, trellises, cool-season gardens, and ornamental seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Bijou Mix Sweet pea seeds produce mixed bloom on 13–18 in bush plants. Annual growth and Spring/Summer bloom make it useful for fragrant cut flowers, trellises, cool-season gardens, and ornamental seed saving.
About Bijou Mix
Bijou Mix is an annual sweet pea with mixed color, 13–18 in mature height or spread, and a bush habit. Harvest form or size: Flower or head form characteristic of Bijou Mix; mature plant 13–18 in. Botanically it is Lathyrus odoratus. Maturity or first bloom: 70-79 Days; germination: 7-14 Days at 55–70 °F. Best for fragrant cut flowers, trellises, cool-season gardens, and ornamental seed saving. Ornamental only; sweet-pea seeds and pods are not edible.
History and provenance
Sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, is native to the Mediterranean region and has been bred for centuries for fragrance, color, stem length, and flower form. Tall strains require support, while Bijou represents a compact habit. Sweet pea is ornamental: its seeds and pods are not edible and should not be confused with garden peas. A complete public breeder or release record for the named Bijou Mix strain has not been located. The cultivar name is retained, but no person, community, date, or place of origin is assigned without reliable documentation. Bijou Mix sweet pea seeds produce a dwarf, fragrant sweet pea with large flowers in shades of white, rose, pink, scarlet, lavender, and blue, offering all the charm of sweet peas in a more compact form. Bijou Mix brings old-fashioned sweet pea beauty to smaller spaces while maintaining the soft, romantic feel that makes sweet peas such a favorite in flower gardens. An excellent choice for compact gardens and decorative containers, Bijou Mix performs best in full sun with cool-season conditions and regular picking or deadheading. Its manageable height and long flowering period make it especially appealing for gardeners who want sweet peas without committing to a tall climbing display.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Lathyrus odoratus |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 70-79 Days |
| Germination | 7-14 Days at 55–70 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 13–18 in |
| Growth habit | Bush |
| Spacing | 6 in between plants; 18 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.5–7.0 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Bijou Mix from seed
How to grow Bijou Mix Sweet pea
Botanical identity: Lathyrus odoratus. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 55–70 °F. Expected emergence: 7-14 Days. Sow in cool conditions. A short soak can help dry seed hydrate, but discard damaged seed and avoid prolonged waterlogging.
Plant during Spring/Fall. Space plants 6 in apart with 18 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.5–7.0. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
For a longer display of Bijou Mix, remove spent blooms unless seed is being saved. Give the plant its listed spacing, cut flowers with clean tools, and leave selected heads to mature fully for seed. Expected emergence is 7-14 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 70-79 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Bijou Mix is suited to fragrant cut flowers, trellises, cool-season gardens, and ornamental seed saving. Its mixed flowers and 13–18 in stature help determine whether it belongs in a border, cutting row, container, meadow edge, or restoration-style planting. Ornamental only; sweet-pea seeds and pods are not edible.
Saving seed
Bijou Mix contains more than one genetic line or species. Seed collected from the planting will not reproduce the original packet proportions. If saving seed, identify species separately, prevent unwanted crossing where possible, harvest only fully mature seed, dry thoroughly, and label each lot by species, year, and source.
Common problems
Common concerns: damping-off from saturated media; poor emergence from wrong temperature or depth; leggy seedlings from weak light; crowding and weak airflow; lodging in wind or rain; feeding damage from slugs, caterpillars, beetles, or mammals; foliar disease under prolonged leaf wetness; heat stress and shortened bloom in hot weather. Management: use clean media, the sowing depth and temperature, strong light, appropriate thinning, and morning irrigation at soil level. Match support to plant height before wind becomes a problem. Inspect regularly and use the least disruptive control appropriate to the pest, plant, and pollinator setting. Remove diseased debris and rotate annual flower beds where recurring disease is severe.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bijou Mix ready?
70-79 Days from sowing to the primary bloom or market stage used for the listed maturity range
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-14 Days near 55–70 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 13–18 in with a bush habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Well suited to containers when drainage, spacing, light, and moisture are maintained
How is it used?
Primary role: Fragrant cut flowers, trellises, cool-season gardens, and ornamental seed saving. Ornamental only; sweet-pea seeds and pods are not edible.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:25 seeds
