Sweet Pea – April in Paris – Lathyrus odoratus Developed by well-known breeder Dr. Keith Hammett, April in Paris is a perfect match of intoxicating fragrance, lovely form, and ornamental color with the most intense perfume of any sweet pea. The large ruffled blossoms are a soft primrose cream, tinted at the edges in dark lilac that deepens and increases with age. These strong growing vines produce heavy sets of long-stemmed flowers that beg to be cut for heavenly scented bouquets. Soil & Water: Sweet peas must have well-drained soil, so dig deeply and enrich with aged manure or compost before sowing seeds.
Variety Details
Botanical name:Lathyrus odoratus
Plant type: Annual
Growth habit: Vining
Crop category: Pea
Recorded feature: Open-Pollinated
Product format: Seed packet
Sowing & Growing
Soil Temperature: above 50°F
Planting Depth: 1″
Germination: 12-28 Days
Height At Maturity: 6-8 feet
Sun/Shade: Full to Part Sun
Spacing After Thinning: 4-5″
Direct sow ‘April in Paris’ Fragrant Sweet Pea into a prepared bed during the appropriate cool-season window. Keep the seed zone moist during establishment without leaving it waterlogged, and provide support when the recorded growth habit calls for climbing space. Once plants begin flowering, inspect developing pods regularly and harvest at the size and texture preferred for the kitchen. Local temperature, soil conditions, and harvest stage can affect the time from sowing to usable pods.
Seedlings will form strong root systems, then overwinter to bloom vigorously in the spring.
Plant seeds 1″ deep and 2 – 3″ apart.
When seedlings are 2″ tall, thin to 4-5″ apart to allow plants room to mature.
Before sowing ‘April in Paris’ Fragrant Sweet Pea, review the packet alongside the current product details and note any range in temperature, germination, or maturity. Ranges reflect biological and seasonal variation rather than a fixed promise. Label each planting with its date and location, then compare emergence, growth, and harvest with local weather. This record is useful for succession plantings and for deciding whether the crop fits better into an earlier or later seasonal window.
