THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Sweet Pea
Lisa Karen Miller
One day the King of England was enjoying a solitary picnic. Forgetting his manners, he flung some chicken bones into the forest. An enraged pixie jumped out and started berating him for his rudeness – the bones had landed on his little house and smashed the roof.
Another mischievous pixie instructed her elf friends to abduct a baby. They flew through the air, at last dropping their precious burden into a patch of sweet peas. An old woman who was picking the flowers cried out in surprise when she saw a pink baby in her lap.
“Father, father!” she cried. “Look at the sweet baby that has come to us! She shall be our daughter.”
“And what shall we name her?” asked her husband.
“There is only one suitable name for our little daughter, and that is Sweet Pea.”
In France, the sweet pea assures that a bride will always be told the truth and protected from evil, so they are often included in her bouquet. Holding a bunch in your hand will encourage whomever you are speaking with to tell you the truth.
In the language of flowers, its delicate blooms say, “I think of you,” and “Thank you for a lovely time.” They can also signal a meeting or a departure.
A bouquet of April’s flower in a young maiden’s bedroom kept her chaste, while wearing them imparted strength. The fresh flowers forge friendships.
Native to the Mediterranean, this fragrant climbing annual has adorned simple country gardens for centuries. Most growers train it up a trellis, where it can reach up to eight feet in height. It favors cool, damp climates and can bloom from March to November.
The sowing rules for garden peas apply to the sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus (fragrant pea). March 1st and 2nd, the days for Saint David and Saint Chad, had long been popular for garden peas. When cultivation of sweet peas became widespread in the 18th century, gardeners used the same days.
In America, Illinois gardeners prefer Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17. Larger and more fragrant flowers are assured only if planting is completed before sunrise.
The scent has elements of orange, honey, and jasmine. Its softly ruffled petals, which now come in a wide array of colors, resemble butterflies’ or fairies’ wings. Each color carries its own meaning.
White stands for purity, making it popular in bridal bouquets. Orange represents enthusiasm and excitement, while red portrays love, passion, and desire. Pink is linked with youth and beauty, and purple with royalty and pride.
The sweet pea also symbolizes gratitude, always appropriate in November.
© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller
Folklore of Plants 
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