Original - Sweet Pea Plant Starts (4-Pack, Pre-Order)

A head start on the original sweet pea — grown for fragrance above all else.

This listing is for a pre-order of four strong young ‘Original’ sweet pea plants (Lathyrus odoratus), grown in deep Rootrainers, similar to the ones we use here on the farm. These cells encourage excellent root development, resulting in plants that transplant cleanly and establish quickly in cool spring soil.

Each start is carefully grown and selected for vigor and early growth, then shipped at the ideal stage for planting into beds, borders, or containers as soon as the ground can be worked. With proper support and cool-season conditions, you can expect an intensely fragrant display by late spring.

What’s Included

• 4-pack of healthy, individually rooted ‘Original’ sweet pea plants

• Grown in Rootrainers for strong, straight root systems

• Ready for early spring planting once frost danger has passed

• Shipped at the ideal transplanting stage

• Single-variety pack — perfect for collectors and heritage gardeners

Pre-Order & Shipping Window (Important)

This is a pre-order item. Sweet pea plant starts will ship between mid-March and mid-April.

Please select your preferred shipping week using the dropdown below. Orders will not ship before the week you select, though weather or growing conditions may occasionally require shipment to be adjusted slightly within the overall shipping window.

About ‘Original’

‘Original’ is the true wild sweet pea, the foundation from which all modern sweet pea varieties have been bred. Collected in Sicily in the 1970s by Dr. Keith Hammett, this historic form is treasured for its extraordinarily powerful fragrance — one that often stops gardeners in their tracks.

This is a diminutive variety, typically reaching only 4–5 feet tall, making it ideal for planting along walkways, near doors, or beside sitting areas where its scent can be enjoyed up close. While the flowers are not long-lasting in a vase, they are incomparable when experienced in the garden.

‘Original’ sets seed quickly, so frequent deadheading is essential to encourage prolonged flowering. Closely related to classic varieties such as ‘Cupani’ and ‘Matucana’, it offers a direct connection to sweet pea history and an experience rooted in scent rather than show.

Why Choose Plant Starts?

Skip the most time-sensitive stage of growing sweet peas. Whether you’re growing a rare heritage variety or simply want guaranteed success, these ready-to-grow starts make it easy to enjoy strong, healthy plants without the uncertainty of seed starting.