Variety field guide
What to expect from High Scent Sweet Pea
High Scent Sweet pea seeds produce cream bloom on 73–96 in vining/climbing 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
High Scent Sweet pea seeds produce cream bloom on 73–96 in vining/climbing plants. Annual growth and Spring/Summer bloom make it useful for fragrant cut flowers, trellises, cool-season gardens, and ornamental seed saving.
About High Scent
High Scent is an annual sweet pea with cream color, 73–96 in mature height or spread, and a vining/climbing habit. Harvest form or size: Flower or head form characteristic of High Scent; mature plant 73–96 in. Botanically it is Lathyrus odoratus. Maturity or first bloom: 80-89 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
High Scent is associated with New Zealand breeder Dr. Keith Hammett and is widely recognized for fragrance. The cultivar is described as a named sweet-pea selection rather than a generic fragrant mixture. Its cool-season vining habit and support needs remain separate from compact Bijou types. The breeder association supports the named-cultivar history, but it does not replace lot verification. Seedkeepers should retain the supplier packet and purchase record so High Scent is not quietly substituted with a generic fragrant sweet-pea mix. Documented breeder history is kept separate from the supplied seed-lot identity. High Scent sweet pea seeds produce elegant climbing vines with large bi-colored flowers in white edged with purple, offering notable fragrance and classic old-fashioned beauty for trellises, fences, and cutting gardens. This variety is especially prized for its strong perfume, refined bloom pattern, and graceful flowering habit, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who want scent to be just as important as color. High Scent sweet peas bring a romantic, heirloom feel to the cool-season garden while also providing lovely stems for bouquets. A beautiful option for gardeners who value fragrance above all, High Scent sweet peas perform best in full sun with support and cool-season growing conditions. Public breeder or accession records do not fully document the exact strain sold as High Scent. The supplied name and observable traits are retained without adding an unsupported lineage.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Lathyrus odoratus |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 80-89 Days |
| Germination | 7-14 Days at 55–70 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 73–96 in |
| Growth habit | Vining/Climbing |
| Spacing | 6 in between plants; 18 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.5–7.0 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | Trellis |
Starting High Scent from seed
How to grow High Scent 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: Trellis.
Garden performance and care
For a longer display of High Scent, 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 80-89 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
High Scent is suited to fragrant cut flowers, trellises, cool-season gardens, and ornamental seed saving. Its cream flowers and 73–96 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
Save seed from several healthy, true-to-type High Scent plants identified before harvest. Confirm the pollination system of Lathyrus odoratus, separate compatible varieties that flower together, and remove clear off-types before they shed pollen or seed. Allow fruit, pods, ears, or seed heads to reach full biological maturity, then clean and dry the seed completely. Label the lot with variety, source, year, isolation method, number of seed plants, and any selection notes; store it cool, dark, and dry and test germination before an important planting.
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 High Scent ready?
80-89 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 73–96 in with a vining/climbing habit. Support: Trellis.
Can it grow in a container?
Possible in a deep container only with reliable drainage and the listed trellis or vertical support
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
