A sweet pea is a climbing garden flower known for its delicate, ruffled petals and wonderfully sweet fragrance. Sweet peas grow on vines that need something to climb on, like a fence or trellis, and they bloom in soft colors: pink, purple, white, and red. Gardeners love them because their scent can fill an entire garden on a warm summer morning.

The flowers got their name because they belong to the pea family (you can see the resemblance in their pod-shaped seed containers), but unlike regular peas, sweet peas aren't edible. In fact, they're mildly poisonous if eaten, so they're strictly for looking at and smelling.

Sweet pea is also an affectionate nickname people use for someone they love, especially children. A grandmother might call her granddaughter “sweet pea” the same way she might say “sweetheart” or “honey.” The nickname captures the idea that the person is both precious and delightful, just like the fragrant flower.