Sweet Pea 'Carlotta'

At a Glance

Sweet Pea ‘Carlotta’

Quick Facts

• Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus
• Classification: Spencer
• Petal Pattern: Solid / Self-color
• Color Profile: Magenta
• Fragrance: Mild to moderate
• Breeder: Carters
• Year Introduced: 1937
• Flowering Type: Summer-flowering (Long-day)

Overview

Introduced to the floral trade by the renowned British seed house Carters in 1937, this vintage cultivar is cherished for its rich, jewel-toned magenta blossoms. Showcasing the beautifully ruffled, wavy petals that define the Spencer class, it produces substantial flowers on sturdy stalks. It is a fantastic option for growers and designers looking to incorporate bold, deeply saturated colors into their seasonal floral arrangements or garden spaces.

Growth Habit

Operating as a true Spencer type, this highly energetic vine requires robust vertical trellising to accommodate its tall, vigorous climbing nature. It is highly valued for generating the long, strong stems necessary for premium cut flower production. Because it falls into the summer-blooming category, it relies heavily on the prolonged daylight hours of the season—typically twelve hours or more—to successfully initiate its heavy flowering phase.

Cultivation Notes

To guarantee the deepest and healthiest root development, always initiate your seeds in tall, narrow cells or rootrainers rather than shallow flats. When the young vines reach approximately four to six inches in height, carefully snip off the main growing tip. This critical pruning step forces the plant to send out multiple robust lateral branches from its base, ultimately giving you a much sturdier and 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 specific region. (Note: Sweet pea seeds are toxic if ingested, so always exercise caution when planting around children and pets).

Historical Notes

Making its commercial debut in 1937, 'Carlotta' arrived during a highly active era of pre-war sweet pea breeding. During the 1930s, prominent seed firms like Carters were working diligently to expand the Spencer color palette and improve the overall structural performance of the vines. This rich magenta variety stands as a beautiful, surviving representative of that prolific decade in British horticulture.

In the Garden

‘Carlotta’ is frequently grown for:

• Providing bold, solid magenta blooms for dramatic floral arrangements
• Supplying a reliable harvest of long-stemmed cuts for the vase
• Adding a rich, eye-catching pop of color to garden fences and trellises

Companion Planting Notes

The intense magenta shades of this cultivar provide a spectacular visual contrast when placed directly alongside crisp white or soft cream sweet peas (such as 'Jilly' or 'Cathy'). In mixed seasonal bouquets, these bold blooms look incredibly striking when styled alongside ethereal, airy fillers like creeping baby's breath (Gypsophila repens) or the flat, lace-like heads of wild carrot (Daucus carota).