Did you know sweet pea seeds first arrived in England in 1699 from Sicily, thanks to a Sicilian monk named Francesco Cupani? We've come a long way since then but the history of the varieties that now grace our gardens and allotments is fascinating.
When buying seeds certain names crop up repeatedly. If, like me, you're an obsessive flower sniffer and a devoted sweet pea grower you'll have spotted names like Cupani, Grandiflora, Spencer, Lathyrus odoratus, and Henry Eckford. But what do they mean, and why are they important?
In botany names often link to people, places, or events, revealing the plant's history. Henry Eckford, a Scottish horticulturist, ignited a sweet pea frenzy in the 1800s by dedicating his life to improving and crossbreeding them. He created the grandiflora type,…
