Lathyrus odoratus 'First Flame'

The sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, is a hardy annual climber with winged stems, mid-green foliage and fragrant flowers. Many cultivars have been developed, including 'old fashioned' sweet peas and popular Spencer cultivars. Sweet peas can be trained to grow up canes for high-quality blooms, or allowed to scramble freely up a trellis or obelisk. They make excellent cut flowers. Plants need a cool moist root run, and regular watering in dry weather.

Lathyrus odoratus 'First Flame' bears cerise-pink flowers, and will quickly cover trellis and obelisks, adding colour and a powerful fragrance to summer flower borders.

For best results, feed with a high potash fertiliser once a fortnight, and cut blooms regularly to prolong flowering.