Matucana Sweet Pea: How to Grow This Deeply Scented Heirloom Variety

The Matucana sweet pea is one of the most fragrant and distinctive sweet pea varieties you can grow. Famous for its deep purple and maroon bi-colour flowers and intense old-fashioned scent, it’s a favourite among traditional gardeners and cut-flower growers.

⭐ Recommended Products — Sweet Peas & Growing Essentials

Sweet peas are fragrant classics that bring colour and scent to summer gardens — and starting them right gives the best blooms.

• Sweet Pea Seed Mix (Classic & Fragrant Varieties)
A selection of popular and scented sweet pea seeds — perfect for sowing early under cover to produce tall, blooming plants later.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Sweet Pea Support Canes & Twine Kit
Strong bamboo canes with garden twine to train your sweet peas up for maximum display and air circulation.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Seed & Cutting Propagation Compost
Fine, free-draining compost ideal for sowing sweet peas — helps seedlings get a strong start with healthy roots.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Sweet Pea Grow Bags / Small Containers
Great for sowing seeds in pots, cold frames, or greenhouse benches before planting out — gives easy management of early seedlings.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Grow Lights or Heat Mat for Seed Starting
Provides extra light and warmth during early sowing if your natural light is limited — helps sweet peas germinate reliably.
👉 Click here to see top options

This is a heritage (heirloom) sweet pea, valued far more for scent and character than for modern exhibition looks.

🌸 What Is the Matucana Sweet Pea?

Matucana is a heritage annual sweet pea variety dating back to the late 17th century. It is believed to be one of the original sweet peas brought to Europe from Sicily.

Key traits:

• Strong, classic sweet pea fragrance
• Deep purple and maroon bi-colour blooms
• Reliable and easy to grow
• Excellent for scent-focused gardens

It is not a modern Spencer-type sweet pea, meaning the flowers are simpler and smaller, but far superior in scent.

👃 Scent: Why Matucana Is So Popular

Matucana is widely regarded as one of the strongest-scented sweet peas available.

• Rich, traditional “sweet pea” perfume
• Strongest in warm weather and early morning
• Ideal for cutting and bringing indoors

If fragrance is your priority, Matucana is one of the best choices you can make.

🎨 Flower Colour & Appearance

• Deep purple upper petals
• Rich maroon lower petals
• Smaller, elegant blooms compared to modern hybrids
• Shorter stems than Spencer varieties

The dramatic colour contrast makes Matucana stand out even without large flowers.

🌱 How Tall Does Matucana Grow?

• Average height: 1.8–2 metres (6–7 feet)
• Vigorous climber with a natural, slightly wild habit
• Best grown on canes, trellis, arches, or netting

🌱 How to Grow Matucana Sweet Peas

Matucana is grown in the same way as other annual sweet peas but performs best with traditional growing methods.

When to Sow

• October–November (best for strong plants and early flowers)
• January–March (most common and reliable)

Sowing Method

• Sow seeds 2–3 cm deep
• Use deep pots or root trainers
• Grow in a bright, cool position

Soaking seeds for 12–24 hours before sowing can help speed germination.

✂️ Pinching Out

Pinch out seedlings when they reach 10–15 cm tall:

• Remove the growing tip above a leaf joint
• Encourages bushier plants and more flowering stems

This is especially important for heritage varieties like Matucana.

🌿 Planting Out

• Harden off plants for 7–10 days
• Plant out April–May, once frost risk has passed
• Choose full sun and rich, well-drained soil
• Space plants 20–30 cm apart

Install supports before planting to avoid root disturbance.

💧 Watering & Feeding

• Water regularly, especially during dry spells
• Keep soil consistently moist
• Feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser once flowering begins

Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which reduce flowering.

✂️ Picking Flowers (Essential)

Matucana will flower far longer if you:

• Pick flowers every 2–3 days
• Never allow seed pods to form

Regular picking is the key to continuous flowering.

🌸 How Long Does Matucana Flower?

• First flowers: Late May to June (depending on sowing time)
• Main flowering: June–July
• Can continue into August with good care

Heritage varieties may flower slightly shorter than modern hybrids, but the scent more than makes up for it.

🌼 Matucana vs Modern Sweet Peas

Final Thoughts

The Matucana sweet pea is a must-grow variety if you value scent, history, and traditional charm. While it may not have the huge ruffled blooms of modern types, its powerful fragrance and striking colour make it one of the most rewarding sweet peas you can grow.

For gardeners who love old-fashioned flowers and unforgettable scent, Matucana is hard to beat.