Lathyrus odoratus - Cupani

The most fragrant of all Sweet Peas and a true piece of horticultural history, this remarkable variety carries a story as rich as its perfume. In 1699, Father Francis Cupani discovered this beautiful, intensely scented wild Sweet Pea growing near his monastery in Sicily and sent seeds to England, marking the first recorded cultivation of Sweet Pea in the world. From those humble beginnings came a plant that still enchants gardeners centuries later.

A massive bloomer with an abundance of delicate, fluttering flowers, it retains its original, fabulous fragrance—sweet, heady, and unmistakably classic. More heat tolerant than other Sweet Peas, it performs beautifully even when temperatures rise, and its graceful habit makes it especially well suited to containers, where its scent can be enjoyed up close on patios and walkways. Left to its own devices, it will happily self-sow, returning year after year to weave its history, beauty, and perfume back into the garden.

Give this 6–8 foot vine a fence, trellis, obelisk, or twiggy support and keep the flowers picked for fragrant little bouquets. The blooms are smaller than those of many modern sweet peas, but their deep maroon-purple and violet-blue coloring—and that extraordinary perfume—give ‘Cupani’ an old-world presence few newer introductions can match.

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