America Sweet Pea Plants

America - A Nineteenth Century Sweet Pea

America was introduced in 1896 by the Morse-Vaughan seed company in California. That makes it roughly 130 years old, and it is still in commercial production, still grown, still shown, still winning admirers. Very few garden plants of any kind can claim that sort of longevity, and among sweet peas it is remarkable. Entire classes of variety have come and gone in the time America has been quietly getting on with it.

The flowers are Grandiflora type: smaller and less ruffled than the modern Spencers, with the hooded standard and narrower keel that characterise the pre-1901 varieties. Colour is the defining feature , vivid carmine-red stripes on a white ground, each flower marked slightly differently. No two blooms are identical, which is part of the appeal. Some will be boldly striped, others more finely marked, and you will occasionally get a flower that is almost entirely red or almost entirely white. This natural variation is normal and desirable.

Scent and Character

The fragrance is strong – around 4 out of 5 on the Parsons scale, which puts it comfortably in the top tier for a Grandiflora. The scent is that classic sweet pea perfume: warm, honey-like, with a slight spiciness that you notice most in the evening. A few stems in a jug on the table will make their presence known. Stems are shorter than a Spencer's – typically 20–30cm – and carry two to three flowers each. This makes America less suitable for formal exhibition but perfectly good for informal cutting, posy jars, and buttonholes. The plants themselves are vigorous, reaching 1.5–2m with support, and tend to be very free-flowering.

Planting and Position

Full sun is ideal. Like all Grandifloras, America tolerates less-than-perfect conditions better than the fussier Spencers, but it flowers most abundantly with at least six hours of direct sun and a soil that has been properly prepared. Dig in garden compost or manure well ahead of planting, and avoid waterlogged or compacted ground. Support with canes, netting, or pea sticks. America is a strong climber and will find its own way up most structures once it gets going. Space plants around 10-15 cm apart.

In a cottage garden, America looks entirely at home scrambling through other plantings or up a rustic wigwam. Its Grandiflora character, the smaller flowers, the slightly wilder habit, suits informal settings far better than the clipped formality of an exhibition cordon.

How to Keep the Flowers Coming

Pick or deadhead every day, without exception. This is the single most important piece of advice for any sweet pea, and it applies doubly to heritage Grandifloras that set seed enthusiastically. Once pods begin to form, the plant channels its energy into ripening seed rather than producing new blooms. Remove every faded flower and developing pod you can see.

Feed fortnightly with a potash-rich liquid fertiliser from first flower. Sweet peas are legumes and fix their own nitrogen via symbiotic bacteria in their roots, so avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds – these push leafy growth at the expense of flowers. A standard tomato feed at the recommended dilution is ideal. Our sweet pea growing guide goes into more detail on feeding, watering, and seasonal care.

Planting Partners

The bold red-and-white stripes of America call for companions that either echo the palette or contrast cleanly. Black Knight – the deep maroon Grandiflora from the same era – is the obvious pairing. The two were contemporaries on the Victorian and Edwardian show bench, and they still look magnificent together.

Mrs Collier (primrose-cream Grandiflora, introduced 1907) completes a trio of heritage varieties that spans the colour spectrum from cream through striped red to near-black. Grow all three on a single obelisk for a display with genuine historical resonance.

For a more contemporary look, combine America with Henry Thomas (deep crimson Spencer) and Restormel (deep blue Spencer). The old and new types flowering together on the same support is an education in sweet pea history as much as a garden feature. Promise, with its soft pink tones, rounds out the scheme with a lighter touch.

Why Buy Your Sweet Peas from Ashridge?

All our sweet peas are grown from seed on our nursery in Castle Cary, Somerset, and we increasingly use our own saved seed to ensure named varieties come true to type. We use only jumbo plugs, which are deeper and better suited to root development than standard plugs. Every seed is hand-sown at a rate of two per plug, and these are grown on in our polytunnels until the seedlings have fully rooted through. Each one is then pinched out at least once to produce a bushier, multi-stemmed plant that will carry more flowers.

On the day of dispatch, your plants are hand-selected in our polytunnel, packed into purpose-designed recycled cardboard packaging, and sent out the same day by next-day courier. Each plant arrives fully acclimatised and ready for your garden – no coddling required.

We've been growing and selling plants since 1949, and by mail order since 2003. We hold the Feefo Platinum Service Award and were named a Which? Gardening Best Plant Supplier; both are independent recognitions of the quality and service our customers receive. So, if anything at all is wrong with your seedlings when they arrive, contact us within five working days, and we'll put it right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does America hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit?

Yes – it was awarded the AGM in 2012 following formal RHS trials. For a variety introduced in 1896, that is a striking endorsement of its continued garden value.

Why do the stripes vary between flowers?

Natural variation in the expression of the striping gene. Each bloom develops its markings independently, so you will see everything from fine pencil stripes to broad flashes of colour. Occasional self-coloured (all red or all white) flowers are normal and not a sign of anything wrong.

Is America a Grandiflora or a Spencer?

A Grandiflora – the older type, predating the Spencer mutation of 1901. Smaller flowers, shorter stems, stronger scent, and a more informal character than the waved Spencers.

How fragrant is it?

Very – around 4 out of 5 on the Parsons scale. One of the more strongly scented varieties in the range, with a warm, spicy sweetness that carries well.

Will it come back next year?

No – all sweet peas are annuals. Save seed from a few late-season pods if you wish (Grandifloras generally come true from saved seed), or order fresh seedlings each spring.

Is America good for cutting?

Good, though the stems are shorter than a Spencer's. Best suited to small vases, posy jars, and informal arrangements rather than tall displays.