sweet pea

American  

noun

1. a climbing plant, Lathyrus odoratus, of the legume family, having sweet-scented flowers.

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sweet pea British  

noun

1. a climbing leguminous plant, Lathyrus odoratus, of S Europe, widely cultivated for its butterfly-shaped fragrant flowers of delicate pastel colours

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Etymology

Origin of sweet pea

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

Everyone in her group was laden with two or three cone-shaped bundles — a couple dozen each of ranunculus, sweet peas, lisianthus, Queen Anne’s lace, spray roses and large roses in ivory and white.

From Los Angeles Times

I pass through fragrant California sagebrush and wild fennel in one spot, a blend of sweet pea, lilac and kicked-up dirt in another.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s magical for Ferguson too, who over the last 11 months has built a colorful farm on the half-acre with flowers, including Agrostemma, irises, zinnias, cosmos, roses, sunflowers, sweet peas, French dianthus and ranunculus.

From Los Angeles Times

Dr. Biden said the dinner had been designed with springtime in Washington in mind, and the decorations would evoke a garden of her favorite flowers, including sweet pea, roses and peonies.

From New York Times

A grandmother’s favorite sweet pea, a tree planted to honor a baby’s birth or in memory of a loved one, carry heartfelt sentiment and strengthen generational connections.

From Seattle Times