Lathyrus odoratus

‘Mollie Rilstone’

MOLLIE RILSTONE SPENCER SWEET PEAS

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Mollie Rilstone’
MOLLIE RILESTONE SPENCER SWEET PEAS

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Mollie Rilstone’ is an exquisite Spencer type Sweet Pea bred in 1977 by Harrods.

Created specially for a scent addicted Sweet Pea fancier

It was created as a special favour for a very good client, who adored the scent of Sweet Peas, and named this beauty after his wife (hopefully he adored her as much as he loved the scent of his very own special Sweet Pea).

Ruffled creamy blooms delicately blushing with shell pink

‘Mollie Rilstone’ unfurls very large blooms. with delicately ruffled edges.
Petals are luscious cream, delicately flushed from the edges with warm, shell pink, like a maiden blushing.
The colouring is exquisite, as is the fragrance, and as the blooms mature they become even creamier.

Classic old fashioned Sweet Pea scent – on steroids !!! 

The old fashioned Spencer Sweet Peas are renowned for their intoxicating and irresistible perfume – so you just can’t resist burying your nose in them.
But ‘Mollie Rilstone’ is special, with an intense sweet, proper Sweet Pea scent – on steroids.

Particularly large & fragrant blooms

The Spencer Sweet Peas are all famous for their large, ruffled, fragrant flowers.
But ‘Mollie Rilstone’ blooms are particularly large, and beautifully ruffled without being fussy.
And of course with that superb rich scent.

Long stems for bridal bouquets & elegant arrangements

‘Mollie Rilstone’ blooms also have particularly long stems, with 4 to 6 ruffled blossoms per stem.
So they are perfect for picking and arranging.
And of course the colour and perfume makes them perfect for all bridal uses and elegant floral art.

Pedigree Sweet Peas fit for a great gardener

In the late 1800’s Silas Cole was a very talented head-gardener, employed at Althorp estate by the Spencer family (the ancestral home of Diana, Princess of Wales).
So it was the responsibility of Mr. Cole to keep up a steady supply of beautiful flowers to decorate the stately home, and please the Earl and Countess of Spencer.

Then in 1900 Cole hit the jackpot.
Because one of his Sweet Pea plants sported impressively larger, superbly fragrant, wavy petalled blooms of a luscious pink, and on extra long stems for picking.
So he wisely named this new wonder ‘Countess Spencer’.

Prizewinning blooms

Then in 1901 Mr. Cole exhibited his pride and joy at the National Sweet Pea Society’s show, and to the delight of the Earl and Countess Spencer – swept away all competition.
So the Spencer strain of Sweet peas have been bred with devotion ever since at Althorp by successive generations of the Earl Spencers and their Head Gardeners.
Over the years, many new Spencer Sweet Peas have also been developed by breeders round the world.
But all with an emphasis on the beautiful colouring; intoxicating scent; larger blooms; and longer stems the breed is known for.

Tips for florists picking ‘Mollie Rilstone’

1. Pick the stems early in the day and before the flowers are fully open.
   The perfect day to pick is when the lowest blossom on the stem has just started to open.
2. Singe the base of the stems with a match or candle, or dip the stem ends in boiling water for a few minutes.
3. Plunge the stems in a vase of cold water immediately after the singe, and fill the cold water up to their necks, just below the start of the flowers.
4. Pop some sugar or flower preservative solution into the vase.

Hardy perfumed climber

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Mollie Rilstone’ creates perfect climbers for any garden, even in a small space.
So plant in Full Sun to Partial Shade, on a trellis, fence, or climbing through a supporting shrub.
Sweet Peas enjoy soil with plenty of organic matter and feed, and really appreciate mulch in the summer. This helps to keep them blooming for even longer.

Self twining & perfect in a pot

Spencer Sweet Peas are self-twining, attaching themselves to the support or host, scrambling up to about 1.5 to 2m. high all by themselves. They do not smother the host.
And are also perfect for growing in a container on a tripod.

Gives “Cut & Come Again” flowers

So the more flowers you cut, the more they produce, and for even longer.

Quickly raised from seed & easily grown

Plants of Lathyrus odoratus ‘Mollie Rilstone’ are easily raised from seed, and grow on to flowering size quickly.
It is also easy to gather pea pods of seeds for next year, or you can just let them drop so they sow their own crop for next year. The seeds are quick and easy germinators.

Annual climber 1.5 to 2m. High approx. x 30cm. Wide. Self twining.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Can be sown outdoors direct in the garden in autumn, winter or early spring
OR
Sown indoors in small pots at any time when suitable temperatures can be provided (18-20°C).

Indoors & outdoors: First soak the Sweet Pea seeds in warm (not boiling) water and allow to soak and cool overnight.
Then the seeds that are ready to sow will have sunk to the bottom by morning. While any that are not yet ready will be floating (they have not yet softened to allow water to penetrate).
Seeds of ‘Mollie Rilstone’ have a particularly hard coating, so soaking is important.

Should you have any floating seeds – then roughen the hard coat by gently rubbing the dried seeds between 2 sheets of fine sandpaper, or rubbing between your hands with some grit or sand.
Then re-soak overnight again.

Now plant seeds 2.5cm. deep. individually in little pots / or in the garden.
Deeper pots or tubes are best, as the peas soon develop a long tap root.

Temperatures of 18-20°C. are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Seeds germinate in approx. 14 days. at optimum temperatures.

Seed Count: 20 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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