'Almost Black' Sweet Pea Seedling Plants

Almost Black Sweet Peas

Sweet Pea Almost Black (Lathyrus odorata) is one of the darkest varieties available and makes an amazing addition to summer borders or large pots.

Like most sweet peas, it is not one colour, but a fabulous blend of dark maroon shading to near-black, with the base of the petals lightly splashed with purple. The blooms really change colour depending on which light they're viewed in but the velvety texture remains, enhancing the intensity of the dark hues.

Almost Black is a Modern Grandiflora, which means it has the best of all sweet pea types - larger flowers than the old heritage varieties, produced in profusion, with the long stems of the Spencer blooms and the scent of ancestral varieties such as Matucana. Its fragrance is truly stunning, very sweet and strong, so make sure to plant them where they can be appreciated. Although the flower size is not as big as some Modern Grandifloras (the petals are unwaved, more like a slightly larger antique variety), this seems to add to the blooms' overall appeal, as the colour intensity isn't diluted.

Browse our sweet pea range.

Our Sweet Peas are delivered in purpose-designed, recycled cardboard packaging, and are ready to be planted out when you get them.
We generally send them out between March and May, but we will email you with the likely delivery timescale once you have placed your order.

Features

• Colour: Dark maroon/almost black
• Stem: Long
• Height: 2m
• Type: Modern Grandiflora
• Scent: Strong, sweet, heady
• Flowering: June-September
• Planting Months: March-June
• Suitable for use as a cut flower
• Ideal as a contrast with lighter sweet pea varieties

In Your Garden Design

Such an unusual sweet pea deserves to be shown off to its best, so grow it with other contrasting pale varieties to enhance its depth of colour. White and cream sweet peas such as Cathy, Mrs Collier and White Supreme, available in our sweet pea collection are perfect to grow together up an obelisk, wigwam or canes near the front of the border, so you can appreciate the contrast and amazing scents. Likewise, if you're growing Almost Black as a cut flower, mix them with lighter varieties or with a light vase to get the best effect.

Don't plant them on their own at the back of a border with other dark colours or greens, where the subtlety of the blooms will be lost.