6 Best Sweet Pea Varieties For Fragrant Cottage Gardens Old Gardeners Love

There’s nothing quite like walking through a garden on a warm afternoon and catching that unmistakable, sweet perfume of sweet peas on the breeze. It’s a scent that transports you, a hallmark of the classic cottage garden that so many of us strive for. But not all sweet peas are created equal, and if fragrance is your goal, you have to choose your varieties with intention.

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The Timeless Scent of Cottage Garden Sweet Peas

Many gardeners, especially those new to sweet peas, get drawn in by the big, frilly flowers of modern Spencer types. They look incredible in catalogs and on the show bench, but often, that visual punch comes at a cost: fragrance. The truth is, many of the most intensely perfumed varieties are the older, heirloom types, often called Grandifloras. These typically have smaller flowers and shorter stems, but what they lack in size, they more than make up for in scent.

This presents a classic tradeoff for the small-scale grower. Do you want a vase full of long-stemmed, ruffled blooms that look stunning but have a faint scent? Or do you want a slightly more rustic-looking bouquet that can fill an entire room with perfume? There’s no wrong answer, but understanding this distinction is the first step to planting the sweet peas that will truly make you happy.

For a cottage garden, where the goal is often a sensory experience rather than a formal display, prioritizing scent is a decision you’ll never regret. These old-fashioned varieties are also often hardier and more vigorous, making them a reliable choice for someone who needs their garden to be productive without constant coddling. They are, in essence, the workhorses of the fragrant garden.

‘Cupani’s Original’: The Ultimate Heirloom Scent

If you could only grow one sweet pea for pure, unadulterated fragrance, ‘Cupani’s Original’ would be it. This is the variety that started it all, first sent from Sicily to England by a monk, Brother Francesco Cupani, in the late 1600s. It is believed to be the ancestor of all modern sweet peas, and its scent is powerful, complex, and absolutely intoxicating—a rich mix of honey and spice.

The flowers themselves are small and delicate, a striking combination of a deep maroon-purple upper petal (the standard) and violet lower petals (the wings). They aren’t flashy, and their stems are on the shorter side, so you’ll need to crowd them into a small vase. But that’s a small price to pay. A handful of ‘Cupani’ stems on a windowsill will perfume the entire room better than any modern air freshener.

This variety is a must-grow for anyone serious about fragrance. It’s a living piece of history that performs reliably year after year. Its vigor and simple needs make it a perfect fit for a low-maintenance cottage garden where every plant needs to pull its weight.

‘Matucana’: A Vibrant and Perfumed Bicolor Choice

Think of ‘Matucana’ as ‘Cupani’s’ slightly more flamboyant cousin. It shares a similar powerful fragrance and bicolored appearance but with more intensity. The standard petal is a vibrant magenta-maroon, and the wings are a brilliant violet-blue, creating a jewel-toned effect on the vine.

Like ‘Cupani’, ‘Matucana’ is an heirloom Grandiflora type known for its incredible scent. It’s a vigorous climber that will quickly cover a trellis or obelisk, producing a profusion of blooms all season long as long as you keep cutting them. The scent is strong and sweet, easily drifting across the garden on a warm day.

For the gardener who loves the historic fragrance of ‘Cupani’ but wants a bit more color, ‘Matucana’ is the perfect solution. It offers the same low-fuss, high-reward experience and is an excellent choice for bouquets meant to be smelled, not just seen. It’s a dependable classic that delivers on its promise of intense perfume.

‘High Scent’: Modern Breeding for Classic Perfume

While many modern sweet peas have lost their fragrance, some breeders have worked hard to bring it back. ‘High Scent’ is a prime example of this effort. Created by renowned breeder Dr. Keith Hammett, this variety was specifically selected for its outstanding, classic sweet pea perfume. It proves you don’t always have to choose an ancient heirloom to get a powerful scent.

‘High Scent’ produces large, ruffled, cream-colored flowers with a delicate lilac-blue edge. It combines the elegant look of a modern Spencer type with the robust fragrance of an old-fashioned Grandiflora. This makes it an ideal choice for someone who wants it all: long stems for cutting, beautiful form, and a knockout scent.

This variety represents a fantastic middle ground. You get the cutting-garden performance that makes for impressive bouquets without sacrificing the very reason most of us grow sweet peas in the first place. If you’ve been disappointed by the weak scent of other modern varieties, give ‘High Scent’ a try.

‘King Edward VII’: Royal Crimson and Rich Fragrance

Named in honor of the British monarch, ‘King Edward VII’ is an heirloom variety from the early 20th century that remains a favorite for good reason. It boasts large, silky, crimson-red flowers that provide a bold splash of color in the garden. Unlike many other red flowers that lack scent, this one packs a punch.

Its fragrance is rich and warm, a classic sweet pea scent that is strong without being overwhelming. This variety is a consistently strong grower, producing an abundance of flowers on reasonably long stems, making it a great all-rounder. It’s tough, reliable, and beautiful—a true cottage garden staple.

Pairing ‘King Edward VII’ with a white or cream variety like ‘Mrs. Collier’ (another fragrant classic) creates a stunning visual contrast in both the garden and the vase. For gardeners wanting a deep, saturated color that doesn’t compromise on perfume, this is one of the best you can grow.

‘Painted Lady’: A Historic and Sweetly Scented Pea

Dating back to the 18th century, ‘Painted Lady’ is one of the oldest sweet pea varieties still in cultivation. Its charm lies in its simplicity and its delightful fragrance. The flowers are a delicate bicolor, with pale, blush-pink standard petals and nearly white wings, giving them a soft, romantic look.

The scent is what truly sets it apart. It’s intensely sweet, often described as having notes of honey and orange blossom. It’s a different kind of sweetness from the spicier scent of ‘Cupani’, but it is equally powerful. Like many of the oldest heirlooms, the stems are shorter, making it better suited for small posies or for simply enjoying on the vine.

‘Painted Lady’ is perfect for the gardener who appreciates history and subtlety. Its gentle coloring and sweet perfume are the essence of a traditional cottage garden. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most unassuming flowers offer the greatest rewards.

‘Black Knight’: Dramatic Color and Clove-Like Scent

For those who want to add a touch of drama to their garden, ‘Black Knight’ is an unbeatable choice. This heirloom variety, dating back to the late 1800s, produces stunning flowers in the deepest shade of maroon, appearing almost black in certain light. It’s a showstopper on the vine, especially when planted next to pale pinks or whites.

What makes ‘Black Knight’ truly special is its unique fragrance. While many sweet peas have a purely sweet or floral scent, this one has a distinct, spicy note of clove mixed in. It’s a warm, complex, and utterly captivating perfume that is as dramatic as its color.

While it’s a Grandiflora type, the stems are often long enough for cutting, making it a versatile choice. Use ‘Black Knight’ to add depth and mystery to bouquets. It’s a fantastic option for the gardener looking to grow something a little different from the standard pastel palette, without giving up that all-important fragrance.

Tips for Maximizing Fragrance in Your Sweet Peas

Choosing the right variety is step one, but how you grow them also makes a difference. A stressed plant will never perform at its peak, and that includes scent production. To get the most perfume out of your sweet peas, focus on a few key things.

First, give them what they need to thrive. This means full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Sweet peas are heavy feeders, so amending your soil with well-rotted compost or manure before planting gives them a strong start. Consistent watering is also crucial, especially as they begin to flower. Water at the base of the plants to avoid issues like powdery mildew.

Second, timing matters. The scent is often strongest in the middle of a warm, still day when the volatile oils are being released. This is the best time to cut them for the house. And you must cut them! The more flowers you pick, the more the plant will produce. Don’t let them go to seed, or the plant will shut down production.

Finally, go easy on the nitrogen. A common mistake is to feed sweet peas with a high-nitrogen fertilizer. This will give you lush, green foliage but can actually suppress flower production and dilute the fragrance. Use a balanced fertilizer or one that is higher in potassium, like a tomato feed, once the plants start budding.

Ultimately, growing sweet peas is an act of optimism, planting a tiny, hard seed in the hope of future beauty and scent. By choosing varieties known for their perfume, you’re ensuring that the reward for your efforts is as fragrant as it is beautiful. This season, make room for a few of these classics and fill your garden, and your home, with the timeless scent of summer.