How to Grow
Sweet Pea 'Parfume Edith Flanagan' from Seed
The rare coral sweet pea — Hardy Annual H3; Spencer type; bred by Andrew Beane and Roger Parsons; soft orange-pink to coral large blooms on long strong stems; highly scented (Parfume series); a distinctive warm-toned palette that bridges pink and orange; sow Oct–Nov (best) cold frame or Jan–Mar at 15°C; pick every 2–3 days; TOXICITY: all parts mildly toxic
Sweet Pea 'Parfume Edith Flanagan' is the coral sweet pea — and in a genus where white, pink, lavender, crimson and purple are all abundantly represented, true coral is rare enough to be genuinely distinctive. Bred by Andrew Beane and Roger Parsons — two of the most respected names in UK sweet pea breeding, with the Parsons Scale of Sweet Pea fragrance bearing Roger Parsons's name — Edith Flanagan carries the Parfume prefix that signals fragrance-priority breeding, combined with the Spencer-class flower quality and stem length that make it an outstanding cutting garden variety.
The glowing quality of the coral-orange blooms — the warm tones that appear to be lit from within against any neutral or cool backdrop — makes Edith Flanagan the distinctive element in a mixed sweet pea arrangement that warm pinks, lavenders, and creams cannot provide alone. In a vase of mixed sweet peas, Edith Flanagan is the bloom that draws the eye first, the warm focal point around which the rest of the arrangement makes visual sense. Growing it alongside the cream of Mollie Rilstone, the lavender of Leamington, and the deep violet of Starry Night provides the complete cottage garden sweet pea palette with the coral element as its warm, glowing centre.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Hardy Annual H3 — Spencer type; bred by Andrew Beane and Roger Parsons
Colour
Soft orange-pink to coral; large blooms; a rare and distinctive warm-toned sweet pea
Bred
By Andrew Beane and Roger Parsons — two of the most respected UK sweet pea breeders
Fragrance
Highly scented; long strong stems; outstanding for cutting and exhibition
TOXICITY
All parts mildly toxic — do not eat; keep away from children and pets
Difficulty
2 out of 5 — same care as all Spencer sweet peas; the coral colour is the distinctive reward
Understanding Parfume Edith Flanagan
Toxicity Warning — All Parts Mildly Toxic
Sweet pea seeds and all parts of the plant are mildly toxic if ingested. They must not be eaten and should not be mistaken for edible garden peas, which they closely resemble in seed form. Keep seeds and plants away from children and pets at all stages.
The Coral Sweet Pea — A Rare Warm-Toned Palette
In the sweet pea colour spectrum — which covers white, cream, every shade of pink, lavender-lilac, purple, crimson, and maroon — true coral or orange-pink is genuinely rare and distinctive. Parfume Edith Flanagan occupies this specific warm territory: soft orange-pink to coral blooms that are described variously as "apricot-pink," "coral," and "rich orange coral that glows in the garden." The Floret Flowers description captures it well: "large, gorgeous flowers in a rich orange coral that glow in the garden." This glowing quality — the warmth of the coral tones that lit from within — is what makes Edith Flanagan distinctive in any mixed sweet pea display or cut flower arrangement, providing a warm anchor that no pink, lavender, or purple variety can replicate.
Bred by Andrew Beane and Roger Parsons
Andrew Beane and Roger Parsons are two of the most respected names in UK sweet pea breeding. Roger Parsons established the National Collection of Sweet Peas and has been instrumental in bringing new varieties to commercial cultivation; the Parsons Scale of Sweet Pea fragrance — used by growers to rate scent intensity — is named for him. Varieties bred by this team, including Edith Flanagan, reflect the specific expertise in combining fragrance, stem length, flower quality, and novel colour development that defines serious sweet pea breeding.
Soaking, Nicking, Pinching, and the Golden Rule
Soak seeds in tepid water for a few hours before sowing to aid germination and identify any with hard seed coats — nick these gently with a nail file. When plants reach approximately 10cm (4 pairs of leaves), pinch out the growing tip for bushy multi-stemmed growth. The Golden Rule: pick every 2–3 days and remove all seed pods without exception. Once a plant sets seed, it stops producing flowers.
Rich Soil, Strong Support, and Regular Feeding
Sweet peas are hungry and thirsty plants. Prepare the planting position generously with well-rotted manure or compost before planting. Erect support structures (bamboo wigwam, trellis, or netting) before or at planting. Feed fortnightly with high-potash liquid fertiliser (tomato feed) from the first buds. Water at the base; mulch generously to keep roots cool through summer. Roots that overheat in July and August are the primary cause of season-ending failure.
Sowing & Growing On
Sow Oct–Nov (best) or Jan–Mar at 15°C — Root Trainers — 1cm Deep — Soak First — Plant Mar–May — Support to 1.5–2m — Pick Every 2–3 Days
Sow in root trainers at 1cm after soaking. Best: October–November in a cold frame for May flowers. Spring: January–March at 15°C. Plant March–May in rich deep soil. Pinch at 4 pairs. Pick every 2–3 days. The coral colour is most vibrant in the first 3–4 days in the vase.
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Soak seeds in tepid water for a few hours before sowing; nick any that do not swell. Sow at 1cm depth in root trainers or deep pots. Autumn sowing (October–November, cold frame): overwinter for May flowers and the strongest plants. Spring sowing (January–March): maintain approximately 15°C — heat above 18°C significantly inhibits germination. Germination 10–21 days.
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Grow on in cool, bright conditions and plant out once established. Do not allow plants to become rootbound in their pots before planting. Plant March–April (autumn sown) or April–May (spring sown) into deeply-dug, generously-manured soil. Erect support structures before or at planting — never after climbing has started.
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Pinch out at 4 pairs of leaves (approximately 10cm) for bushy multi-stemmed growth. Guide the stems to the support structure regularly. Feed fortnightly with high-potash fertiliser from first buds. Water deeply at the base; mulch to insulate the root zone against summer heat.
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Pick every 2–3 days without exception; remove all seed pods immediately. This is the single most important action for a long sweet pea season. A plant that is allowed to set seed stops producing flowers within a week. Regular picking is both the reward and the management requirement simultaneously.
Growing On & Care
The Coral Palette in Arrangements
Coral sweet peas occupy a unique position in cut flower arrangements: they bridge the warm pink palette and the orange-apricot range in a way that neither pure pink nor true orange achieve. In a mixed sweet pea arrangement, Edith Flanagan provides the warm, glowing anchor around which cream (Mollie Rilstone, Heaven Scent), rose-pink (Mammoth Rose Pink), and lavender (Leamington) companions arrange themselves. The coral-orange tone also works beautifully against the feathery texture of cream Ammi or white Gypsophila, and provides the specific warm focal note in mixed summer arrangements that makes the surrounding colours appear cooler and more refined by contrast.
The Breeding Tradition
Andrew Beane and Roger Parsons represent the tradition of serious amateur and professional UK sweet pea breeding that has produced some of the finest varieties in cultivation. Varieties bred by Roger Parsons specifically bear the "Parfume" prefix in the UK seed trade — a marker of the fragrance-prioritising breeding philosophy that distinguishes their work from sweet pea programmes that have prioritised other qualities. The Parfume prefix on Edith Flanagan signals that the variety was selected specifically for its scent character alongside its other qualities.
As a Cut Flower
Edith Flanagan produces long, strong stems that carry the large coral blooms cleanly at cutting height. Cut in the early morning when 2–3 flowers are open and further buds remain. Re-cut at an angle under water; condition in deep water for 4 hours. The coral colour is most vivid in the first 3–4 days in the vase; it deepens and warms slightly as the flowers age. In a mixed sweet pea vase with cream and pale pink companions, Edith Flanagan provides the essential warm note that prevents the arrangement from becoming too pale and cool in overall effect.
Exhibition Quality
As a Spencer type bred specifically for cutting and exhibition by Andrew Beane and Roger Parsons, Edith Flanagan meets the exhibition standard: long, straight stems bearing well-placed blooms with the ruffled, waved petal character of the Spencer class. For gardeners who show sweet peas, Edith Flanagan provides the coral-and-orange class with quality that reflects its breeding pedigree. For domestic growers, the same qualities translate into professional-grade cut stems of a colour that sets the arrangement apart from more commonly-seen sweet pea palettes.
Heat Management and Continued Production
Like all Spencer sweet peas, Edith Flanagan benefits from consistent root zone management during the warmer months. Mulching the base of the plants to a depth of 8–10cm immediately after establishment insulates the root zone against the summer heat that is the primary trigger for flowering failure. Combined with deep base watering every 2–3 days in dry weather, consistent picking (every 2–3 days without exception), and fortnightly high-potash feeding, these measures maintain Edith Flanagan's production through July and August in most UK seasons.
Pollinators
Parfume Edith Flanagan provides a nectar and fragrance resource for long-tongued pollinators throughout its flowering season. The Spencer sweet pea flower structure — with its accessible nectar positioned for visitors with a proboscis of suitable length — is particularly effective for bumblebees and long-tongued solitary bees. The intense fragrance serves as a long-range pollinator signal that draws visitors from considerable distances across the garden.
Sowing & Season Calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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| Autumn sow (Oct–Nov; root trainers; cold frame) |
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| Spring sow (Jan–Mar; cool 15°C; deep pots) |
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| Plant out (Mar–May depending on sow) |
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| Pick every 2–3 days (never allow pods) |
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Common Problems & Solutions
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Coral colour appearing pale or washed-out | Heat stress; plant dehydrated; poor soil nutrition | Water consistently at the base. Feed fortnightly with high-potash fertiliser from first buds. Ensure generous soil preparation. The coral colour is most vivid in well-nourished, well-watered plants. |
| Flowering stopping mid-summer | Seed pods forming; root overheating | Strip all seed pods. Mulch root zone 8–10cm. Water at the base. Resume fortnightly feeding. Production resumes as conditions improve. |
| Poor germination | Temperature too high (spring sowing); seeds not soaked | Maintain 15°C for spring sowing. Soak seeds in tepid water before sowing. Nick seeds that do not swell after soaking. |
| Weak stems; blooms not at exhibition quality | Insufficient nutrition; not trained vertically | Feed fortnightly from first buds. Prepare soil generously with manure or compost. Train stems vertically from the earliest stage for maximum stem length. |
Plant Specifications
The warm coral that glows in the garden and in the vase — the distinctive tone that no pink, lavender or purple sweet pea can replicate
Sow in root trainers at 1cm after soaking seeds. Best: October–November in a cold frame for May flowers. Spring: January–March at 15°C. Plant March–May in rich deep soil with support. Pinch at 4 pairs. Pick every 2–3 days without fail. The coral-orange blooms of Edith Flanagan and their intense Parfume-series fragrance provide the warm focal note in mixed arrangements from May through September.
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