Quick Facts
- Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus
- Classification: Grandiflora (Old-Fashioned / Heirloom)
- Petal Pattern: Flake / Striped
- Color Profile: Maroon, violet, and indigo patterning on a white base
- Fragrance: Strong
- Breeder: Henry Eckford
- Year Introduced: 1891
- Flowering Type: Summer
Overview
'Senator' is an eye-catching historical sweet pea recognized for its bold, high-contrast blooms. Because it is an antique Grandiflora type, its flowers display the traditional, slightly hooded shape rather than the highly ruffled petals of modern cultivars. The coloration is highly distinct: the main upper petal (the standard) is heavily marbled with maroon and violet, while the flanking lower petals (the wings) are streaked with deep indigo and violet. All of this dark patterning is set against a clean white background. Treasured for both its dramatic aesthetics and its fragrance, it remains a wonderful choice for those cultivating heirloom gardens.
Growth Habit
Following the typical nature of older sweet pea vines, 'Senator' is a vigorous, tall-growing climber. As it stretches upward during the summer months, it relies on tendrils to grasp its surroundings, meaning growers must provide it with a robust trellis, netting, or obelisk for proper vertical support.
Cultivation Notes
As a summer-blooming cultivar, this vine relies on the extended daylight hours of late spring and summer to trigger flower production. To build a stronger plant with thicker stems, it is best to pinch out the main growing tip when the seedlings are young, which forces the plant to branch out laterally. Provide the roots with deeply cultivated, fertile soil. Once the plant begins to produce its striped blossoms, frequent harvesting is mandatory—allowing the flowers to go to seed will bring the blooming cycle to a premature halt.
Historical Notes
Bred by the renowned sweet pea pioneer Henry Eckford, this variety was introduced in 1891. Horticultural experts of the era often compared its specific color profile to the dark 'Monarch' sweet pea, noting that it essentially looked like a white-striped iteration of that deep-hued variety. The Reverend W.T. Hutchins also documented it as a distinguished dark-striped cultivar in his early 1892 publication. Decades later, a ruffled Spencer mutation named 'Senator Spencer' emerged (which many considered more of a novelty than a true beauty), but the original 1891 Grandiflora remains a beloved classic in the sweet pea community.
In the Garden
Grown for: Adding authentic 19th-century historical character to gardens, providing intense heirloom fragrance, and supplying highly contrasting bi-color blooms for cut flower arrangements.
Companion Planting
Because the blooms feature such a busy, dark-on-light pattern, they look incredible when paired with solid-colored flowers that pull out their specific tones. Try planting them alongside deep, velvety purples or maroons to highlight the dark flaking, or weave them among pure white sweet peas to emphasize their crisp white background.
