Heathcliff Sweet Pea Plants

• Variety: Heathcliff
• Type: Modern Grandiflora
• Colour: Deep burgundy-maroon with a velvet finish
• Scent: Strong, rich and honeyed
• Flowers: Semi-waved, open-faced. 3–4 per stem, larger than a heritage Grandiflora
• Stems: Long enough for cutting, sturdy and straight
• Height: 1.8–2m (6–7ft) with support
• Flowering: Late June to September with regular picking
• RHS AGM: Yes
• Show class: Modern Grandiflora (NSPS)
• Bred by: Bernard Jones
• Sold as: Jumbo plug plants, hand-sown by us
• Plant outdoors: After last frost
• Delivered: March to May by next-day courier. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Heathcliff – Drama on the Show Bench

Heathcliff is the darkest sweet pea in our range that also holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. That combination matters. Dark varieties are not difficult to breed; dark varieties that perform reliably in British gardens, year after year, are another thing altogether. Bernard Jones achieved both. The flowers are a deep burgundy-maroon with a velvet finish that absorbs light rather than reflecting it. In shade they read as near-black; in sun the warm crimson undertones emerge. The petals have a weight and substance that lighter-coloured varieties lack.

As a Modern Grandiflora, Heathcliff sits between the heritage types and the Spencers. The flowers are open-faced and semi-waved rather than fully ruffled, larger than a traditional Grandiflora like Black Knight but with more of the older type's generous scent. The fragrance is strong, rich and honeyed. A bunch in a narrow-necked vase in a warm room will make itself known within minutes.

Three Dark Sweet Peas, Three Different Stories

We grow three dark varieties and each has its own personality. Black Knight is the Victorian original, bred by Henry Eckford in 1898. Small flowers, shorter stems, tremendous perfume, and the character of a nineteenth-century cottage garden. Almost Black is the darkest of the three, a Keith Hammett Modern Grandiflora that pushes closer to true black than anything else we grow. Heathcliff falls between them on colour but leads on form. The blooms are larger, the stems longer, and the AGM confirms what exhibition growers already knew: this is the dark sweet pea that judges reach for.

All three work beautifully alongside pale companions. Dark flowers need light neighbours to show their full depth. Heathcliff against a cream or white variety is one of the simplest, most effective plantings in the sweet pea world. For growing, feeding, and support guidance, see our sweet pea growing guide.

Pairing Ideas

Jilly (ivory-cream Spencer, AGM) is the obvious first choice. The dark burgundy against warm cream is a combination that works in the garden, in a vase, and on the show bench. Mollie Rilstone (cream with a pink picotee edge) adds a third dimension, the delicate pink edging picking up the warmer tones hidden in Heathcliff's maroon. For a bolder contrast, Turquoise Lagoon (blue-green hammettii hybrid) against the burgundy creates something genuinely unexpected.

On a pergola or arch, Heathcliff threads well through wisteria. The wisteria finishes flowering as the sweet peas begin, so the structure stays clothed from spring into autumn. Amethyst Falls or Prolific are compact enough to share a support without overwhelming the sweet peas beneath.

The Ashridge Difference

Growing sweet peas well means getting the early stages right. The seed, which we collect ourselves, is hand-sown at two seeds per plug. After germination, the weaker seedling is removed. Every plant is then pinched out to encourage bushy growth and hardened off before dispatch. What you are buying are sturdy, garden-ready jumbo plug plants that have had the best possible start.

Your sweet peas are delivered by next-day courier between March and May, packed in purpose-designed recycled cardboard packaging. They go straight into the ground or a container on arrival. If anything is not right, we have real people on the phone in Somerset who will sort it out. We hold a Feefo Platinum Service Award and have been named a Which? Best Buy plant supplier.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Heathcliff compare to Almost Black and Black Knight?

All three are dark sweet peas but they differ in flower size, form, and character. Black Knight is a heritage Grandiflora with smaller, intensely scented blooms and a pedigree dating to 1898. Almost Black pushes closest to true black and is the most relaxed grower. Heathcliff offers the best combination of flower size, stem length, and show-bench form, which is why it carries the AGM.

What does Heathcliff smell like?

Rich and honeyed with the warm depth you get from the older sweet pea types. Heathcliff scores well for fragrance, stronger than many Spencers and certainly stronger than you would expect from a flower this dark. The scent is best from freshly picked stems in a warm room.

Does Heathcliff hold the RHS AGM?

Heathcliff holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit, which is given to varieties that perform consistently well in UK growing conditions. Among dark sweet peas, it is the only one in our range with this recognition. The AGM reflects reliable flowering, good health, and genuine garden value across multiple trial seasons.

Should I pinch out sweet pea seedlings?

Pinching out encourages the plant to branch from the base rather than growing as a single stem, which gives you more flowering shoots and a bushier plant. Our plugs arrive already pinched out, so you do not need to do it again. If you are growing from seed yourself, pinch the growing tip above the third or fourth pair of leaves once the plant is about 10cm tall.

Is Heathcliff an annual?

All sweet peas are annuals. Heathcliff flowers from late June to September, then it is done. At the end of the season, cut the stems at ground level but leave the roots in the soil. Sweet peas are legumes and their root nodules contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, so whatever you plant next in that spot gets a natural fertility boost. For fresh plants each spring, browse our sweet pea collection.