Perennial Sweet Peas

The once overgrown garden next door has now been cleared but there has appeared a perennial sweet pea which is growing up a conifer. Very pretty pink - and there are already seed pods.

I have asked the neighbour (who is at the moment on holiday) if I can have the seed pods and she has agreed (she knows she will get any resulting plants plus more).

Anyway, my question is if I save the seeds will they be hardy perennials ? or will they revert back to the annual type ?

If, as I am hoping, they will be perennials, when do I sow ? should I dry the seeds or sow them fresh ? in late Summer or Spring ?

Here's the photo - it has done well to survive the onslaught of the clear-up (many other plants have not survived - how many times can a Hydrangea take having the shoots hoed off as they appear above the soil ? lol


S

 

They will remain perennial, however be careful where you plant them as I asked a similar question, and was informed what huge roots they get, and the resulting problems they can cause.
http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/perennial-sweet-peas.49425/ thats a link to the thread, I did move them and they died, will probably get some more seed and replant next year, as i have a perfect spot where they can keep growing.

 

Happy to hear Pam and thanks for the thumbs up on the size of the roots and the thread - will have a read.


Pam has said it all Perennial plants are a different species from annual plants and can't "revert" back to what they weren't in the first place

DOH !!! - when put like that - explains all - thanks Armandii

(Having a job quoting part of a post in my reply - used to come up as I moved the mouse over it - so I copied and pasted - not the same effect though)

S

 

Put the word Quote inside the brackets next to the letter 'p' on your keyboard. Then at the end of the bit you want to quote, put /quote in the same brackets.
Thus (but with different brackets otherwise it won't show (quote) This is how to quote (/quote). These are the correct brackets [ ]

And the Perennial Pea, we have White Pearl, Pink Pearl and a red one and they do tend to spread if not looked after. Dead head assiduously to avoid self seeding.

 

Do they have the same fragrance as the annual ones? Also, do they come in lots of different colours like the annuals?

 

And Lathyrus latifolius (the one we are discussing here) comes in three colours, red,pink or white. There are a large number of other Lathyrus which come in other colours (except yellow). Lathyrus vernus is blue, white, pink and variuos combinations of these. Lathyrus aureus is orange.

 

Hmmm, I might give some a go then. Shame about the fragrance though.

 

Never knew about perennial sweet peas, you think I could plant some now?

 

As good a time as any!