Greeting Cards - Sweet Pea - Lathyrus Mutacana
Hardy Annual Climber. Flowers: Summer

Old-fashioned, yet universally loved, the sweet pea is the ultimate summer scented plant. Since 1699, when the first seed was sent to England by the Sicilian monk Franciscus Cupani, the sweet pea has been a consistent winner - partly because of its pretty, blowsy flowers, but most of all because of its strong, sweet fragrance that invites you to bury your nose in the blooms. 'Mutacana' is an old variety related to the pea that Cupani introduced all those years ago. Its intense purple and royal-blue flowers erupt in early summer, and will continue in full glory throughout the season, provided the flowers are picked regularly. When cut, place the stems in a bowl of water, and soon the whole room will be filled with the sweet, intoxicating scent.