Quick Facts
- Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus
- Classification: Spencer
- Petal Pattern: Solid/Self
- Color Profile: White
- Fragrance: Moderately Scented
- Breeder: Dr. Keith Hammett
- Year Introduced: 2010
- Flowering Type: Summer
Overview
'Wild Swan' is a pure white, summer-flowering Spencer sweet pea. As a standard summer bloomer, it is a "long-day" variety that requires at least 12 hours of daylight to successfully initiate its flowering cycle. It is an excellent, crisp white addition to both the garden and cut flower arrangements.
Growth Habit
Like most traditional summer Spencers, this variety is a tall, vigorous climbing vine that requires sturdy vertical support to thrive. It produces the classic ruffled blooms associated with the Spencer classification on long stems.
Cultivation Notes
Because 'Wild Swan' relies on the longer days of summer to trigger its flowering cycle (12 or more hours of daylight), it should be timed to bloom during the peak of summer rather than forced for early spring cuts. To maximize its potential, provide it with rich, deeply prepared soil. Like all Spencers, it will require regular harvesting and deadheading to prevent it from setting seed and halting flower production.
Historical Notes
'Wild Swan' was bred by the renowned New Zealand plant breeder Dr. Keith Hammett and introduced in 2010 (it was also notably featured in the Somerset catalogue in 2012). Dr. Hammett is globally recognized for his innovative sweet pea breeding, including his work on developing world-class fragrance and introducing striking new color patterns to the modern Spencer class.
In the Garden
Grown for: Crisp white summer cut flowers, adding bright, clean accents to the garden trellis, and providing essential neutral tones to balance out mixed floral arrangements.
Companion Planting: Pair this pure white sweet pea with deeply colored Hammett varieties like 'Almost Black' or 'Midnight' for a dramatic, moody contrast, and interplant with airy green fillers like bells of Ireland or frothy ammi majus to create fresh, elegant vase displays.
