Quick Facts
- Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus
- Classification: Grandiflora
- Petal Pattern: Bicolor / Flush
- Color Profile: Rose pink over a white ground
- Fragrance: Strong
- Breeder: Unwins
- Year Introduced: 2010
- Flowering Type: Summer
Overview
The most prominent modern cultivar bearing the name 'Emily' is a Grandiflora sweet pea that produces fragrant blossoms with a soft rose-pink flush over a crisp white base. Because it belongs to the Grandiflora classification, it produces a highly intense, traditional perfume and is specifically valued for its exceptional fragrance.
Growth Habit
This cultivar is a tall and highly vigorous climbing vine. As the plant develops, it uses small tendrils to securely grasp its surroundings, making it essential to provide a sturdy vertical support system such as a trellis, garden obelisk, or netting to accommodate its upward growth.
Cultivation Notes
As a summer-flowering variety, it relies on the extended daylight hours of late spring and summer to initiate its blooming cycle. To encourage a bushier plant with stronger lateral branches, the central growing tip should be pinched out when the young seedling has developed a few true leaves. It performs best in deeply prepared, moisture-holding soil. Once the plant begins to flower, the blossoms must be harvested regularly; if the flowers are left to fade and develop seed pods, the vine will permanently stop blooming.
Historical Notes
The title 'Emily' has been applied to several distinct sweet peas throughout horticultural history. Notable early varieties include the blue-purple 'Emily Eckford' introduced in 1892, and the pure white 'Emily Henderson' introduced in 1893. In 1912, a rosy-mauve Spencer variety was introduced by House under the name 'Emily'. Decades later, in 1991, the Japanese breeder Sakata registered two rose-pink Spencer strains with the exact same name. The current and most widely recognized 'Emily' is the modern Grandiflora introduced by the British seed company Unwins in their Autumn 2009 catalog for the 2010 season.
In the Garden
Grown for: Providing intense old-fashioned fragrance, yielding delicate pink-and-white blooms for cut flower arrangements, and bringing classic heirloom charm to garden borders.
Companion Planting
The subtle rose-on-white coloration pairs beautifully with deep, contrasting colors like the dark blue of 'Lord Nelson' or the deep maroon of 'Black Knight'. Alternatively, it can be planted alongside soft creams such as 'Jilly' or 'Mrs. Collier' to create a gentle, harmonious pastel color scheme.
