Sweet Pea 'Anniversary'

At a Glance

Sweet Pea ‘Anniversary’

Quick Facts

• Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus
• Classification: Spencer
• Petal Pattern: Picotee
• Color Profile: Crisp white base delicately outlined with a pink margin
• Fragrance: Pronounced and highly pleasing
• Breeder: Truslove / Marchant
• Year Introduced: 1986
• Flowering Type: Summer-flowering (Long-day)

Overview

Jointly introduced to the floral trade by Truslove and Marchant in 1986, this exquisite cultivar perfectly showcases the classic "picotee" pattern, featuring a pristine white center that is subtly traced with a contrasting pink border. It has earned a stellar reputation among commercial flower farmers as a thoroughly dependable performer. Because it reliably produces a wonderful fragrance alongside its beautiful two-toned aesthetic, it remains a premier choice for both garden displays and professional bouquet work.

Growth Habit

As a true member of the Spencer classification, this plant acts as a highly energetic, tall-climbing vine. It is particularly celebrated by commercial growers for its consistent ability to set buds and its robust overall health. The plant readily generates the generously elongated, sturdy stems that are strictly required for high-quality cut flower production. Being a summer-flowering variety, it depends on the extended daylight hours of the season—generally twelve hours or more—to initiate its prolific blooming phase.

Cultivation Notes

To ensure the healthiest and deepest root network, you should always initiate your seeds in tall, narrow pots rather than shallow trays. When the young vines reach roughly four to six inches in height, it is crucial to snip off the main growing tip. This specific pruning action forces the plant to push out multiple strong lateral vines from its base, resulting in a much sturdier, higher-yielding plant.

Because ideal planting windows vary drastically based on your local climate, be sure to use our Custom Zip-Code Planting Tool to identify the optimal sowing week for your region.

Historical Notes

While the picotee pattern has existed in sweet peas for generations, 'Anniversary' represents a highly successful late-twentieth-century refinement of this delicate coloration within the Spencer class. Registered in 1985 and appearing in commercial catalogs by 1986, it quickly established itself as a standard for quality. Decades after its initial release, it continues to be highlighted in modern growing guides as a top-tier, "tried and true" favorite for reliable cutting.

In the Garden

‘Anniversary’ is frequently grown for:

• Providing a highly reliable harvest of long-stemmed cuts for floristry
• Adding a delicate, two-toned picotee aesthetic to bridal arrangements
• Bringing vigorous vertical growth and delightful perfume to garden trellises

Companion Planting Notes

The crisp white and delicate pink edges of this variety make it incredibly versatile in floral design. It pairs flawlessly with ethereal, airy fillers like creeping baby's breath (Gypsophila repens) or the flat, lace-like heads of wild carrot (Daucus carota). In a garden setting, placing it alongside solid, dark-hued sweet peas—such as deep purples or velvety maroons—will magnificently highlight its intricately edged petals.