The Sweet Pea flower is a household name and is seen in bouquets and gardens throughout the world. They are a classic flower that brings up images of wholesome classroom nurseries and sweet fairy cottage gardens.
They are known for their beautiful pink, blue and purple hues, sweet and light floral scent, and for their soft, ruffled petals that resemble butterfly wings or dancers’ tutus. Read on to find out more about these gorgeous blooms, including facts about them and what they represent across different cultures.
Becoming increasingly possible in Britain during the Victorian era, the Sweet Pea became an overwhelming floral sensation due to its amazing light scent and its array of soft pastel colors.
Known for its sweetness, the Sweet Pea represents light, childhood, virginity, and chastity. They are often reminiscent of simple lives, cottages, and rural natural beauty.
There are no negative associations with the Sweet Pea, they are beautiful and plentiful, easy for growing but not associated with commonality. Each of it is unique and cherished, but they do look even better as a bouquet!
The Sweet Pea has a number of different meanings which we’ll list below.
Pleasure
The Sweet Pea blooms represent pleasure and enjoyment of nature. The mixture of their fragrant scent and delicate petals symbolize beauty and delight in the natural world.
Greetings And Goodbyes
The Sweet Pea is also used as a goodwill gesture that represents having a good time. Flowers in general are a perfect gift for a loved one or a friend, but Sweet Peas are the perfect way of saying how much fun you had.
Gratitude
The Sweet Pea is a symbol of loyalty and gratitude as well as being a symbol of long-lasting friendships.
Good Omens
The Sweet Pea is used as a good luck charm for brides, and to symbolize positive omens for the coming life together.
Chastity
The Sweet Pea, as the name suggests, is a symbol of sweetness, chastity, and purity.
Truth
Folklore, and superstition suggest that the Sweet Pea had magical properties that could provide wisdom and truth.
The phrase ‘Hey Sweet Pea’ is synonymous with lovers and family members alike, and represents true love and affection.
There are no negative connotations with Sweet Peas, the clue is in the name!
Joy And Celebration
The Sweet Pea is synonymous with goodwill and happy occasions.
The scientific meaning of the Sweet pea flower is Lathyrus Odoratus. This translates directly as ‘fragrant and attractive’, the perfect description of the beautiful Sweet Pea!
They are a fragrant, sweet-smelling flower that was first discovered to be native to Sicily and the surrounding Mediterranean regions in the late 17th Century, on record at least.
In the late 1800s, they became a big deal for Victorian gardens and nurseries after famous Scottish gardener Henry Eckford began cultivating them widely in his nursery. Many of the cultivations that he produced in the late 1800s are still in use today across the world.
Varieties
Many different popular types of Sweet Pea varieties vary from hue color, fragrance strength, and the way they grow. Some of these are better at tolerating cold climates whilst others are better at growing in heated climates.
There are so many different varieties of the flower and they all carry adorable names such as Fire and Ice, Prima Ballerina, Strawberry Sundae, Apricot Sprite, and so many more!
This wonderful selection of adorable names can be attributed to the mix of bright and light pastel hue and sweet fairy-like appearance that the Sweet Pea has in its many forms.
They are part of the Fabaceae family and look strikingly similar to the Everlasting Pea flower of the same genus. The difference here is that the Sweet Pea is a perennial flower whereas the Everlasting Pea blooms all year round, as the name suggests.
Sweet Peas are often grown for their sweet and floral scent which can travel far. The scent is often described as a light mixture of orange blossom, sweet honey, and floral jasmine– candy-like without being sickly sweet.
Symbolism Of The Flower
The Sweet Pea flower has many different meanings, but they commonly symbolize purity, innocence, and chastity.
You’re likely to find it blooms in a quaint English garden, or a cute rural cottage across the globe, think Miss Honey’s cottage-core paradise in Matilda and you’ll know what we mean! These often symbolize friendship, kindness, and positivity as well as classic rural charm.
Many believe that the Sweet Pea symbolizes a positive experience and they also symbolize gratitude making them the perfect flower to give as a thank you gift.
The Sweet Pea comes in a variety of colors, all of which tend to be both light and pastel or bright and vibrant, blending beautifully together. Listed below are the different colors Sweet Peas grow in and what their meanings are.
Orange
Sweet Peas that are orange are used to symbolize excitement and exuberance.
Red
Like many other red flowers, the red Sweet Pea is a universal symbol of love and passionate devotion.
White
As with many other white-colored flowers, the Sweet Pea represents both purity, innocence and are commonly seen in wedding bouquets. They can also represent death and mourning, especially a combination of both, such as for a young person’s funeral.
Pink
The most common Sweet Pea color is pink. They have been bred in a number of different combinations which have been named as such- Fire and Ice are deep magenta fading into white, Mollie Rilstone Sweet Peas are soft pastel pink, and the brighter magenta booms are called Gwendoline.
Purple
Another common Sweet Pea color is purple. They represent loyalty and pride and are often used to represent house colors or for stately homes. The Cupani is a common violet bloom and the Matacana is a deeper crimson-colored Sweet Pea bloom.
Meaningful Botanical Characteristics Of The Flower
Fragrance
The sweet scent of the Sweet Pea is one of its most attractive characteristics.
Easy To Grow
These are flowers that will bloom back even more if you give them a good trimming every so often! This makes them the ideal flower to have in your garden if you love having freshly cut flowers to decorate your home all season long.
Seasonal Flowers
These flowers will bloom all season long, and have a little trouble coming back the next year, even if you take care to prune your garden well during the winter. For that reason, Sweet Peas are called annuals, which means they will be planted, grow, blossom, and die within a single season. If you are looking for a Sweet Pea flower that blooms throughout the year, try planting the Everlasting Pea.
Abundance Of Colors
Sweet Peas come in a large variety of colors, making them the perfect filler for bouquets or as a colorful centerpiece all by themselves.
Sweet Peas are very easy to grow, and add a fabulous pop of color to your garden with minimal effort!
A Long History
Because it is so easy to cultivate, it has a long history in gardening and floral design. When you put Sweet Peas in your garden you are carrying on this tradition and they are a flower that is likely to remain popular forever due to their amazing color, distinct petal shape, and ease of use.
Related To The Pea
The Sweet Pea flower may not be a crop pea, but it is closely related to the traditional garden pea and within the same genus. They are both a part of the Fabaceae family, as are lentils and other beans and pulses.
Toxic Properties
The Sweet Pea contains toxins. Even though many used it as a food or medicine, it is dangerous for consumption to both humans and to animals.
Dogs and cats especially should stay away from them. If one of your pets is very prone to nibbling on your flower displays or munching your garden, it’s best that you don’t have sweet peas in there as they can cause serious issues.If you know that your pet has consumed sweet peas it’s best to err on the side of caution and take them immediately to the vets and induce vomiting as soon as you can.
Children would have to eat a lot of seeds and stems in order to have an adverse reaction to Sweet Peas but ultimately they can be poisonous. Symptoms of which include convulsions, paralysis, and difficulty breathing. Be sure to visit the hospital if you know a child has consumed large quantities of Sweet Peas.
Good For Getting Rid Of Flies
The Sweet Pea might smell amazing to us, but flies really don’t like it. If you find that you’re just getting too many flies in your garden, perhaps the humble Sweet Pea could do the trick to clear them out.
Good For The Bees
Whilst not amazing particularly for pollinating, the Sweet Pea is a very bright color which tends to attract bees. Plant your Sweet Peas amongst other pollinating flowers, especially under large amounts of shade, and you’ll be helping out your bee brethren.
Special Occasions For The Sweet Pea Flowers
Given their bright and beautiful colors, many oftern used Sweet Peas in bridal bouquets and especially popular amongst younger brides.
People also considered them ‘grandmother’ flowers as well. They further often used it for funerals, welcomes or as gifts on grandmothers or mothers day. They are traditionally feminine flowers and their bright pastel colors are a popular favorite amongst many who embrace femininity.
The Sweet Pea is also the birth flower of those born in the month of April, making them an extra special gift for April birthdays!
Flower Cultural Significance
Since their Discovery In Sicily according to legend in the 17th century, they have had a long and fortuitous impact on the English and European botany world.
The famed Victorian nursery cultivator Henry Eckford was especially fond of the Sweet Pea flower and for most of the late 1800s and beyond, they were a popular addition to any British garden.
The Sweet Pea was a symbol of virginity and purity for brides, especially in France. Giving a bride Sweet Peas on their wedding day is a sign of luck and good fortune for her coming marriage. They are still a wonderful and symbolic addition to a wedding bouquet.
Different seasonality depending on the climate and species- If planted in the fall, the Sweet Pea will blossom during the winter and spring in warm climates. In colder climes, the Sweet Pea will bloom in the summertime, provided the seeds are started as seeds in a greenhouse over the spring season.
Latin name- The scientific name for Sweet Peas is Lathyrus Odoratus.
Climbing plants- This plant naturally loves climbing, making them fantastic if you want to have them in a trellis in your garden. With additional support, they can reach up to 8 feet in length!
Mound forming plants- If you grow them in a bush they can grow up to 1 to 2 ft per clump.
Flower Uses
The sweet doesn’t necessarily have any particular uses other than to look pretty! It’s a strong smelling flower which makes it great for adding fragrance to your garden. Flies don’t particulary liked the smell. is also not particularly liked by flies, making a good flower to plant if you plan on having a large outdoor event and you want to avoid those pesky flies.
Many has used it for medicine. But this is definitely not something that modern times encourages. As much of the Sweet Pea is actually toxic to both humans and animals.
Any medical use that has relations to the sweet pea, it’s pretty unsubstantiated at this point. Whilst many still used seeds sometimes in unleavened Indian bread. There are still some serious safety concerns so they don’t recommend it for human consumption.
What Is The Symbolism Of A Sweet Pea Flower Tattoo?
Due to the Sweet Pea’s meaning, a Sweet Pea flower tattoo usually has associations with those who have died as a symbol of remembrance. This is especially true for female friendships, grandparents, and mothers as remembrance tattoos.
They are also a symbol of growth and healing as most flower blooms are, and they’re also just a symbol of femininity, sweetness, and pleasure.
Sweet Peas can potentially have a negative meaning as they can sometimes symbolize naivety. But, it’s mostly used as a flower that celebrates playfulness and innocence.
Final Thoughts
The Sweet Pea is a fantastic flower to give on any occasion. Some flowers have dual meanings but the Sweet Pea is not one of them. You can give them safe in the knowledge that they don’t have any hidden mean symbolism.
The Sweet Pea represents romance, kind-heartedness, thankfulness, and purity. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of these lovely flowers, how to spot them, and the best occasions to give them to someone you love.
Diane has always been interested in spirituality and self-improvement. She is a happy and outgoing person. She started her spiritual journey with Chandra while looking for tools to bring positivity to their lives. She boosts her mind with self-care and affirmations. However, she also knows what crystals to wear based on her feelings. She also practices the law of attraction.
