Sweet Pea

Sweet peas are one of the most romantically beautiful and sweetly scented flowers in floristry. Their delicate, ruffled blooms in shades of pink, purple, white, red, and coral have a soft, watercolour quality that is unlike anything else available. They are a quintessentially British summer flower, the kind that fills a cottage garden with colour and fragrance from June to August, and one of the most sought-after stems of the season.

What sweet peas mean and when to gift them

Sweet peas carry one of the most specific and poignant meanings in the language of flowers: blissful pleasure and a fond farewell. They are traditionally given as a thank you at the end of a visit or a gathering, carrying the message: thank you for a wonderful time. This makes them a particularly thoughtful choice for hostess gifts and for sending to someone after a special occasion.

They are also associated with delicate pleasure, the appreciation of beauty, and the idea that some of the best things in life are fleeting. Their short season and brief vase life are part of what makes them so precious.

Pink sweet peas represent pleasure and romance. White sweet peas carry meanings of purity and innocence. Purple sweet peas are associated with gratitude and appreciation. Red sweet peas represent passion and deep affection.

Sweet peas are the birth flower for April, making them a particularly meaningful choice for spring birthday bouquets.

How long do sweet peas last

Sweet peas are one of the more delicate cut flowers and typically last between five and seven days. Their short vase life is part of their charm. They are a flower to be enjoyed intensely while they last rather than expected to endure. Their fragrance is at its strongest in the first few days, which is when they are most rewarding.

Buying or receiving sweet peas with some buds still closed will extend their display, as the buds continue to open over several days.

How to care for them

Trim the stems at a 45-degree angle on arrival and place them immediately in a clean vase with fresh, cool water. Sweet peas are thirsty and will drink heavily, so check the water level daily. Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline.

Change the water every day if possible, or every two days at minimum. Keep sweet peas in a cool room away from direct sunlight, heat, and fruit bowls. Their fragrance is strongest in a cool environment. Remove spent blooms daily to encourage remaining buds to open.

Are sweet peas safe for cats and dogs

No. Sweet peas are toxic to both cats and dogs. Ingestion can cause weakness, lethargy, tremors, and in severe cases, paralysis. They should be kept well out of reach of pets at all times.

If you need a similarly delicate, ruffled flower that is safe for pets, lisianthus is an excellent alternative and is completely non-toxic to cats and dogs.

When to send sweet peas

Sweet peas have a short seasonal window in the UK, typically available between May and August. They are at their most abundant and most fragrant in June and July. Their seasonal scarcity makes them feel genuinely special when they arrive.

Send sweet peas as a hostess gift or thank you after a special occasion. Send them for April and May birthdays, where they are the birth flower. Send them for summer weddings, where their delicate, romantic appearance and extraordinary fragrance make them one of the most popular bridal flowers of the season.

Sweet peas are perhaps the most purely British of all summer flowers. Their scent is unmistakable and their season is short. If you want to send something that feels genuinely precious and seasonal, there is very little that competes with them in June or July.

Shop arrangements that include sweet peas

Our florist's choice bouquet features seasonal stems and includes sweet peas during their peak summer season. Available with free UK delivery from £34.

Related guides:

Phlox Guide

All flower guides