Anniversary Sweet Pea Plants

Anniversary - The Sweet Pea That Keeps Going

Anniversary has a reputation for flowering longer than almost any other sweet pea variety. Specialist growers report pickable stems from late June well into October in a good year, which is a full month or more beyond what most Spencers manage. Sarah Raven has described it as flowering for twice as long as other varieties, and while that may overstate things slightly, the extended season is real and consistent. If you want sweet peas in the house right through the autumn, Anniversary is the one to grow.

The colour is a clean white ground with a broad rose-pink flush along the edges of the standard and wings – a picotee pattern that varies in intensity from flower to flower. Some blooms are predominantly white with a blush of pink; others carry more colour. The effect is soft, romantic, and endlessly useful in arrangements.

Breeding and Background

Anniversary was raised by Bill Truslove and introduced commercially by Marchant in 1986. Truslove was a dedicated amateur breeder whose varieties have proved unusually durable – Anniversary is approaching forty years in cultivation and shows no sign of falling from favour. It is one of the most exhibited sweet peas in the country, popular both on the show bench and in amateur competitions where it frequently wins its class. It does not hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit, which is perhaps surprising for a variety this well established. The AGM is awarded through formal trials and not every worthy variety has been put forward. Its absence from the list does nothing to diminish its standing among growers who have planted it year after year.

What to Expect

Large Spencer flowers – well waved, with a strong standard and good petal substance that holds up in rain better than some of the more delicate varieties. Stems are long and straight, carrying four to five blooms each as the season progresses, and occasionally six on a well-grown plant in its prime. That stem count is above average for a Spencer and is one reason it performs so well on the show bench. Scent is moderate – pleasant and noticeable, though not in the same league as the old Grandifloras or the strongly scented modern types. A generous bunch will perfume a room gently. Height reaches a full 2m (6–7ft) with support, and the growth is vigorous throughout.

Growing Advice

Anniversary is not demanding, but (surprise, surprise) it rewards good preparation. Dig in organic matter before planting – garden compost, well-rotted manure, or spent mushroom compost all work. The roots go deep, so soil that is open and well-drained to a good depth produces the strongest plants. Full sun is preferred. Plant 10-15 cms apart at the base of your chosen support. Tie in the young growth until the tendrils take over, then let the plants climb. Water deeply rather than frequently – a thorough soaking two or three times a week is better than a daily sprinkle that wets only the surface.

Feed fortnightly with a high-potash liquid fertiliser once the first buds appear. As with all sweet peas, avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds. The plants produce their own nitrogen through root-dwelling bacteria, so additional nitrogen will generate lush foliage but fewer flowers. See our sweet pea growing guide for the complete picture.

Making the Most of the Long Season

Anniversary's extended flowering season is its greatest asset, but you have to work with the plant to get the full benefit. Daily picking or deadheading is essential – more so than with shorter-season varieties, because there is - a little - more time for seed pods to form and shut down flowering. If you go on holiday in August and leave Anniversary to its own devices for a fortnight, you will come back to a plant covered in pods and very few new buds. However, if you stayed at home and kept up with your dead-heading then by late August, when other sweet peas are tiring, Anniversary will still be producing strongly. Give it a generous feed at this point and continue watering well. The autumn flowers are typically smaller than midsummer's but still perfectly good for cutting, and the lateness of the season means fewer competing blooms in the garden – your sweet peas will have the stage to themselves.

Planting Companions

The white-and-pink colouring makes Anniversary one of the most versatile sweet peas for mixed planting. It sits well alongside almost any colour. For a sophisticated scheme, grow it with Almost Black (deep maroon Modern Grandiflora) and White Supreme (pure white Spencer). The contrast between the dark, the blush, and the clean white is striking without being garish.

Flora Norton (bright blue Grandiflora) provides a colour contrast that works beautifully in a mixed bunch. The blue against the pink picotee is a classic florist's combination. Windsor (deep maroon Spencer) adds rich depth, and Mollie Rilstone (cream flushed pink) echoes Anniversary's own palette in a softer, creamier register.

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. Your seedlings leave us hardened off and outdoor-ready; just plant and water in.

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 Anniversary hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit?

No. It has not been through the formal AGM trial process, despite being one of the most widely grown and exhibited Spencers in the UK.

How long does it flower?

Typically from late June into October in a good year, which is significantly longer than most sweet peas. Daily picking and regular feeding are essential to maintain the display through late summer and autumn.

How many flowers per stem?

Four to five is standard, occasionally six on a strong plant in good conditions. Above average for a Spencer.

Who bred Anniversary?

Raised by Bill Truslove, introduced by Marchant in 1986. Truslove was an accomplished amateur breeder whose varieties have stood the test of time remarkably well.

Is it good for exhibition?

Very good. The long stems, consistent flower form, and high bloom count per stem make it a regular winner on the show bench. Its extended season also means fresh stems are available later in the year than most exhibition varieties.

Does Anniversary come back each year?

No – all sweet peas are hardy annuals. They complete their life cycle in one growing season. Plant fresh each spring from seed or from ready-grown seedlings.

Is it fragrant?

Moderately. The scent is pleasant rather than powerful – a gentle sweetness noticeable when cutting or leaning close, and enough to lightly perfume a room from a generous bunch. For stronger scent, pair Anniversary with a heritage Grandiflora variety.