Sweet Pea Seeds: Ruffled, Large-Flowered and Perennial Types Explained

When shopping for sweet pea seeds, you may see descriptions such as “large-flowered sweet peas” or “ruffled sweet peas”. Do these names refer to different species?

How to choose sweet pea seeds

For the familiar annual sweet pea, look for Lathyrus odoratus. Then compare the cultivar names and descriptions for colour, fragrance, flower form, height and suitability for cutting. If you want a plant that returns each year, look for a perennial Lathyrus species and check whether fragrance is important to you.

The botanical name identifies the species. The cultivar or series name identifies the selection. Words such as “large-flowered” and “ruffled” describe what its flowers look like.