OLD FASHIONED SWEET PEAS

This group of Sweet Peas are sometimes known as Grandifloras. They are small flowered by comparison with the Spencer varieties of today, but this is more than compensated by their highly scented flowers. The history of the early introductions from the 16th Century has been lost in the myths of time, many ofthe other varieties were introduced in the late 19th and early 20th Century and were bred by Henry Eckford.

America

This variety is one of the most popular grandifloras and has crimson red stripes on a white background. It has well scented flowers and was introduced in 1896.

Black Knight

As this name implies thi sis one of the darkest flowered of all the Old Fashioned varieties. It has a free flowering with deep maroon flowers.

Captain of the Blues

Introduced in 1891 by Henry Eckford, Captain of the Blues has deep blue and pale blue bicoloured flowers.

Cupani

Named after Father Cupani the Sicilian Monk who sent seed to England of this variety in 1699. The original Sweet Pea, Cupani has purple/blue bicoloured flowers and is highly scented.

Dorethy Eckford

A pure white flowered variety introduced in 1903 and named after Henry Eckford's wife Dorothy.

Fire and Ice

An exciting new introduction which has very interesting flowers. The standards are white with a crimson veined flare and the wings are white with a blue picotee edge. Fire and Ice is a very free flowering and scented variety.

Flora Norton

A free flowering variety with pretty pale blue flowers.

Henry Eckford

This variety is very free flowering, with bright orange flowers, which is very unusual in the Old Fashioned Sweet Peas.

King Edward VII

This variety has rich crimson flowers, which are very attractive with good scent. Introduced in 1903.

Lord Nelson

This variety has navy blue flowers and was introduced in 1907.

Matucana

A very free flowering and highly scented variety with blue/purple bicoloured flowers similar to Cupani. Matucana was probably derived from material introduced from South America, the flowers of Matucana are much larger than those of Cupani.

Miss Wilmott

One of the most attractive of all the Old Fashioned Sweet Peas. Miss Wilmott has Salmon Pink bicoloured flowers. Introduced by Henry Eckford in 1901.

Mrs Collier

A very attractive variety with cream coloured flowers and greenish buds. Mrs Collier has a free flowering habitand was introduced in 1907.

Painted Lady

Introduced in 1737 Painted Lady has bicoloured flowers with a rose standard and which wings. It is very attractive and highly scented.

Queen Alexandria

A bright crimson scarlet with free flowering habit. Named after the wife of Edward the VII. Queen Alexandria is very attractive with good scent.

Queen of the Isles

This variety has crimson and magenta striped flowers, and was introduced by Henry Eckford in 1885.

Senator

This variety was introduced by Henry Eckford in 1891 and has flecked chocolate flowers.

OLD FASHIONED MIXTURES

Old Fashioned Mix

A formula blend of a wide range of colours in the old fashioned grandiflora types, all of which are highly scented.

Old Fashioned Pastel Mix

A specially selected blend of pastel colours from our range of old fashioned grandifloras.