Sweet Pea 'Winnie Rogers'

At a Glance

Quick Facts

• Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus
• Classification: Spencer
• Petal Pattern: Flush / Bicolor
• Color Profile: Delicate lavender shading over a crisp white base
• Fragrance: Moderate
• Breeder: Philip Johnson
• Year Introduced: 2025
• Flowering Type: Summer-Flowering

Overview

'Winnie Rogers' is a remarkable 2025 addition to the Spencer class, bringing massive, wonderfully ruffled flowers to the summer garden. Its elegant blooms display a soft lavender flush that spreads gracefully over a clean white background. Celebrated as a premier exhibition variety, it merges magnificent flower proportions with beautifully wavy petals, ensuring an exquisite presentation both on the vine and in floral displays.

Growth Habit

Reflecting the classic traits of modern Spencers, this variety grows as a strong, tall climbing vine. It demands reliable vertical support, such as sturdy netting, tall trellises, or bamboo teepees, allowing it to stretch vigorously toward the sun over the course of the growing season.

Cultivation Notes

To coax the most impressive, exhibition-grade flowers from this vine, plant it in a sunny spot with deeply enriched, well-draining soil. Because of the substantial size of the ruffled blooms, securing the climbing stems regularly will keep the plant structurally sound. Frequent cutting and diligent deadheading are vital to stop the plant from going to seed, thereby guaranteeing a persistent wave of fresh lavender-pink blossoms throughout the summer.

Historical Notes

This outstanding cultivar holds a special narrative in modern sweet pea breeding. It emerged from British hybridizer Philip Johnson's very first foray into sweet pea crossing, and he chose to name the stunning result in honour of his grandmother. The horticultural community swiftly recognized its exceptional quality when it captured the highly coveted Gower Cup for the best new variety at the National Sweet Pea Society's National Show hosted at Althorp Park.

In the Garden

Grown For: High-end cut flower bouquets, competitive exhibition showing, and introducing a celebrated, newly released 2025 novelty into garden borders.

Companion Planting

To make its delicate lavender and white tones pop, position it next to deeply saturated, moody cultivars such as 'Almost Black' or 'Dark Passion'. Alternatively, pair it with bright, pure whites like 'Wild Swan' to establish a refined, cool-toned pastel theme.