Quick Facts
- Botanical Name: Lathyrus x hammettii (Hybrid of Lathyrus odoratus and Lathyrus belinensis)
- Classification: Shifter / Modern Hybrid
- Petal Pattern: Color-Shifting
- Color Profile: Lavender morphing to turquoise
- Fragrance: Moderately Scented
- Breeder: Dr. Keith Hammett
- Year Introduced: 2012 (as 'Turquoise') / 2017 (as 'Turquoise Lagoon')
- Flowering Type: Summer
Overview
'Turquoise Lagoon' is a truly remarkable sweet pea that belongs to a newly defined class known as "shifters". Rather than simply fading in the sun, the blooms of this variety actively transform as they age, opening as a soft lavender and gradually shifting to a striking turquoise color. This captivating trait was developed by Dr. Keith Hammett during his groundbreaking attempts to breed the elusive yellow sweet pea by hybridizing the traditional sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) with a different species, Lathyrus belinensis. Due to this unique genetic heritage, these color-shifting hybrids are officially recognized under their own botanical name, Lathyrus x hammettii.
Growth Habit
This variety is a robust climbing vine that requires a sturdy vertical support system to thrive. It produces beautiful, evolving blooms on long stems that are ideal for cutting.
Cultivation Notes
The sources indicate that 'Turquoise Lagoon' is a summer-flowering variety, which makes it a "long-day" plant requiring at least 12 hours of daylight to successfully trigger its blooming cycle. Like all sweet peas, to keep the vines productive and prevent them from setting seed, you must harvest the flowers and deadhead spent blooms regularly.
Historical Notes
Bred by the celebrated New Zealand sweet pea expert Dr. Keith Hammett, this variety first appeared in catalogues around 2012 under the simple name 'Turquoise' (introduced by Parsons). It was later introduced as 'Turquoise Lagoon' by Fothergills in 2017. Dr. Hammett's work with the Lathyrus belinensis species has been globally recognized for introducing an entirely new dynamic color palette to the sweet pea industry.
In the Garden
Grown for: Captivating, color-changing cut flowers, extending the color palette of floral arrangements, and adding a magical, evolving display to the garden trellis.
Companion Planting: Pair this variety with Dr. Hammett's other famous "shifters" like 'Blue Shift' or 'Blue Vein' to create a highly dynamic, transitioning floral display, or ground its changing colors by planting it alongside crisp, pure whites like 'Wild Swan'.
