Valerie Harrod' Sweet Pea Plants

Valerie Harrod – Sunset Colour with Substance

Some sweet pea colours are restrained, but Valerie Harrod is not one of those. The flowers open a warm, glowing coral-pink that fades to creamy white at the centre, giving each bloom the appearance of being lit from within. The blooms are large, properly ruffled in the Spencer manner, and borne on long straight stems that were bred with the show bench or taller vase in mind.

Exhibitors rate it highly. The combination of size, stem quality, and that distinctive warm colouring has made Valerie Harrod a regular at National Sweet Pea Society shows for years. But competition credentials aside, it earns its place in any garden on colour and fragrance alone. The RHS awarded it the AGM in 2001.

Colour and Scent

Descriptions vary with the light – coral-pink, shepherds' sky at night red, there is even a catalogue out there that describes it as apricot-orange – but the consistent element is that warm, almost luminous quality. The paler centre intensifies the outer colour, creating an internal glow that catches the eye from across any border (including yours).

As the individual flowers age, the pink deepens, and the cream heart becomes more pronounced. A stem in water, therefore, presents a slow-motion colour transition over several days – one of the pleasures of growing flowers for cutting.

The scent is pleasant without being overpowering – around 3 on the Parsons scale. You would need a good bunch to scent a room, and in the garden you probably only notice it when you lean in (to do all that dead-heading). But it is stronger-scented than many of the more brightly coloured varieties that can be a bit thin in terms of perfume.

Exhibition Pedigree

Sydney Harrod says he bred Valerie Harrod with the show bench firmly in mind, and the variety has delivered consistently in that arena over the last 20+ years. The stems are unusually straight and stiff for a Spencer, which matters enormously when judges line up vases of competing entries. Four well-placed florets per stem is the norm, while five is not uncommon on well fed and watered plants in a sunny spot.

The AGM, awarded in 2001, confirmed what the professionals already knew. It is not given lightly – varieties are trialled by expert panels, and many fail to make the grade. Holding both an AGM and a strong show record is an unusually powerful double endorsement for any sweet pea. 

Growing and Care

Full sun, in soil that has been generously improved with organic matter. Valerie Harrod is vigorous, reaching around 2m (6–7ft), and throws out strong side shoots that flower freely over a long season. Four well-spaced blooms per stem is typical; the stems are stiff enough to stand upright in a vase without flopping.

Container growing suits this variety well. You will need a pot capacity of at least 4 litres per plant. A good, rich compost will produce excellent results. especially if you water daily in warm weather – a thirsty sweet pea is a sulky sweet pea, and sulky sweet peas stop flowering.

If you have read any of our other sweet pea descriptions, you will know (if you did not before) that you just must keep cutting. Every bloom you remove stimulates its replacement; every pod left on the plant brings the season closer to its end. For detailed guidance on planting, training, and the seasonal calendar, see our sweet pea growing guide.

Pairing Ideas

Warm pinks sing against cool blues. Our Harry (lavender-blue) is the classic partner – a soft cottage-garden combination on a wigwam or mixed in a jar. For deeper contrast, add Blue Velvet, whose intense violet-blue plays off the coral warmth to striking effect.

If you prefer to stay in the warm register, grow Valerie Harrod with Anniversary (pale pink with lavender) and Bobby’s Girl (salmon-pink) for a graduated display from deep coral through salmon to blush. Add Pink Pearl (shell-pink) to extend the range further – four warm tones that grade into each other like a watercolour wash.

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. They arrive hardened off and ready to be planted directly into the ground. We handle the hardening off in our polytunnels, so your seedlings are garden-ready on arrival.

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

Who bred Valerie Harrod?

Sydney Harrod is a hugely respected Irish sweet pea breeder whose introductions remain popular in gardens and on the show circuit. Valerie Harrod, which is named after his wife, is arguably his most widely grown variety.

What colour are the flowers?

Coral-pink with a creamy white centre. The exact tone varies – sunset pink, apricot-orange, warm salmon – depending on the light and the age of the bloom. The inner glow is the defining characteristic.

Does Valerie Harrod hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit?

Yes, awarded in 2001. The Royal Horticultural Society has assessed and recommended it as a reliable, top-performing variety suitable for UK gardens.

Is it a good exhibition sweet pea?

Very much so. Large flowers, long straight stems, consistent colour, and strong form make it a regular at NSPS shows and local competitions.

How fragrant is Valerie Harrod?

Pleasantly scented – around 3 on the Parsons scale. Not a powerhouse, but enough to enjoy in the garden and on the kitchen table.

Do sweet peas come back each year?

No. They are annuals – one season of flowers, then the plant is done. You will need fresh seedlings or seed each spring. Browse our full range of sweet pea seedling plugs for ready-grown options.

Will it grow in a container?

Yes. Allow about 4 litres per plant, provide support, water daily in warm weather, and feed fortnightly with a potash-rich liquid.