Almost Black Sweet Pea Plants
- Variety: Almost Black
- Type: Modern Grandiflora
- Colour: Deep chocolate-maroon, near-black in shade
- Scent: 3/5 (Parsons) — good for a dark variety
- Flowers: Open-faced, lightly hooded. 3–4 per stem, larger than a heritage Grandiflora
- Stems: Long and sturdy — good for cutting
- Height: 2m (6–7ft) with support
- Flowering: Late June to September with regular picking
- RHS AGM: No
- Show class: Modern Grandiflora (NSPS)
- Bred by: Dr Keith Hammett (NZ)
- 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
Almost Black – A Gem for the Adventurous Gardener
Almost Black does what it says. The flowers are a deep, saturated chocolate-maroon that reads as near-black in shade and reveals its rich brown warmth in direct sunlight. It is a Modern Grandiflora, so the blooms are open-faced and lightly hooded rather than ruffled, but larger and longer-stemmed than the heritage types. Those dark petals have texture and movement, catching the light at different angles and showing different depths of colour as the bloom ages. The overall effect is dramatic, never gloomy. This is a sweet pea for gardeners who have moved past pastels and want something with more edge.
Dr Keith Hammett bred Almost Black in New Zealand, and it has earned a loyal following among growers who appreciate dark-flowered varieties. It has a medium scent; honest and pleasant, better than you might expect from a dark type. Many very dark sweet peas sacrifice fragrance for colour. Almost Black manages both, which is why it has stayed in catalogues while flashier introductions have come and gone.
Dark Flowers, Bright Companions
Dark sweet peas need pale companions the way bass notes need treble. Almost Black planted alone on a support can disappear into shadow, especially in a north-facing border. Put it next to something white or cream and it comes alive. Brook Hall (cream-to-white Spencer) is the simplest pairing – the warm cream catches the dark maroon beautifully, and a vase of the two together has a quiet, sophisticated quality that more colourful arrangements rarely achieve.
Almost Black sits in a group of three dark varieties in our collection, alongside Black Knight (deep maroon Grandiflora) and Heathcliff (burgundy Modern Grandiflora, AGM). Black Knight is the heritage option – smaller flowers, shorter stems, but tremendous scent and a pedigree dating to 1898. Heathcliff is the show-bench choice, with deeper velvet tones and strong form. Almost Black falls between the two: a generous, easygoing dark variety without the exhibitor's seriousness of Heathcliff or the old-fashioned scale of Black Knight.
Position matters more with dark flowers than with pale ones. A shaded spot swallows them. A border where the late afternoon sun comes through at an angle – catching the petals from the side – makes the maroon glow. Silver or grey foliage at the base of the support (Stachys, artemisia) catches the light while the dark flowers float above. For full growing advice, see our sweet pea growing guide.
Pairing Ideas
The dark-and-pale principle applies in the border as much as the vase. Mrs Collier (primrose cream Grandiflora, AGM, scent 4) provides both contrast and fragrance – the warm cream glows against the dark maroon, and Mrs Collier's stronger scent compensates where Almost Black's is lighter. On a shared wigwam, the two varieties produce bunches that look effortlessly stylish.
In a cutting garden, Almost Black works alongside late-summer dahlias in similar tones – Sam Hopkins (near-black) or Arabian Night (dark crimson) continue the dark palette from the same bed long after the sweet peas have finished. The dahlias pick up where the sweet peas leave off, and the planting never misses a beat.
Why Buy Your Sweet Pea Seedlings from Ashridge?
We have been growing sweet peas in Somerset since the early 2000s. We collect our own seed, and then hand sown it 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, in purpose-designed recycled cardboard packaging. They are ready to go into the ground or a container from the moment they arrive. 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 – endorsements that came from our customers, not our marketing team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dark is Almost Black?
In shade it reads as near-black. In full sun the petals reveal a deep chocolate-maroon with warm brown undertones. The colour darkens slightly as each bloom matures. It is the closest to true black in our collection – only Black Knight (a heritage Grandiflora) comes close, with a more purely maroon character.
How does Almost Black compare to Heathcliff and Black Knight?
All three are dark, but they are different plants. Black Knight is a heritage Grandiflora – smaller flowers, shorter stems, intense scent, and a long history dating to 1898. Heathcliff is a Modern Grandiflora with bigger, more ruffled flowers and good scent for a dark variety, plus an AGM. Almost Black is the most relaxed of the three: a generous, uncomplicated dark sweet pea that produces freely without demanding exhibition-level attention.
How fragrant is Almost Black?
A 3/5 on the Parsons scale. We would describe that as medium (which is still very noticeable indoors). Pretty good for a dark variety; generally, the darker the sweet pea, the less the scent. Almost Black may not fill a room, but it is far from scentless.
What should I do with Almost Black at the end of the season?
Once flowering finishes in autumn, cut the stems at ground level but leave the roots in the soil. Sweet pea roots carry nitrogen-fixing nodules that benefit the soil as they break down. Compost the tops and plan next year's display.
Will Almost Black come back next year?
Almost Black is an annual, it grows, flowers, sets seed, and dies in a single season. The good news is that you can buy more Almost Black each spring as part of our sweet pea plug collection, grown fresh on the nursery and dispatched ready to plant.
Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Description
- Variety: Almost Black
- Type: Modern Grandiflora
- Colour: Deep chocolate-maroon, near-black in shade
- Scent: 3/5 (Parsons) — good for a dark variety
- Flowers: Open-faced, lightly hooded. 3–4 per stem, larger than a heritage Grandiflora
- Stems: Long and sturdy — good for cutting
- Height: 2m (6–7ft) with support
- Flowering: Late June to September with regular picking
- RHS AGM: No
- Show class: Modern Grandiflora (NSPS)
- Bred by: Dr Keith Hammett (NZ)
- 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
Almost Black – A Gem for the Adventurous Gardener
Almost Black does what it says. The flowers are a deep, saturated chocolate-maroon that reads as near-black in shade and reveals its rich brown warmth in direct sunlight. It is a Modern Grandiflora, so the blooms are open-faced and lightly hooded rather than ruffled, but larger and longer-stemmed than the heritage types. Those dark petals have texture and movement, catching the light at different angles and showing different depths of colour as the bloom ages. The overall effect is dramatic, never gloomy. This is a sweet pea for gardeners who have moved past pastels and want something with more edge.
Dr Keith Hammett bred Almost Black in New Zealand, and it has earned a loyal following among growers who appreciate dark-flowered varieties. It has a medium scent; honest and pleasant, better than you might expect from a dark type. Many very dark sweet peas sacrifice fragrance for colour. Almost Black manages both, which is why it has stayed in catalogues while flashier introductions have come and gone.
Dark Flowers, Bright Companions
Dark sweet peas need pale companions the way bass notes need treble. Almost Black planted alone on a support can disappear into shadow, especially in a north-facing border. Put it next to something white or cream and it comes alive. Brook Hall (cream-to-white Spencer) is the simplest pairing – the warm cream catches the dark maroon beautifully, and a vase of the two together has a quiet, sophisticated quality that more colourful arrangements rarely achieve.
Almost Black sits in a group of three dark varieties in our collection, alongside Black Knight (deep maroon Grandiflora) and Heathcliff (burgundy Modern Grandiflora, AGM). Black Knight is the heritage option – smaller flowers, shorter stems, but tremendous scent and a pedigree dating to 1898. Heathcliff is the show-bench choice, with deeper velvet tones and strong form. Almost Black falls between the two: a generous, easygoing dark variety without the exhibitor's seriousness of Heathcliff or the old-fashioned scale of Black Knight.
Position matters more with dark flowers than with pale ones. A shaded spot swallows them. A border where the late afternoon sun comes through at an angle – catching the petals from the side – makes the maroon glow. Silver or grey foliage at the base of the support (Stachys, artemisia) catches the light while the dark flowers float above. For full growing advice, see our sweet pea growing guide.
Pairing Ideas
The dark-and-pale principle applies in the border as much as the vase. Mrs Collier (primrose cream Grandiflora, AGM, scent 4) provides both contrast and fragrance – the warm cream glows against the dark maroon, and Mrs Collier's stronger scent compensates where Almost Black's is lighter. On a shared wigwam, the two varieties produce bunches that look effortlessly stylish.
In a cutting garden, Almost Black works alongside late-summer dahlias in similar tones – Sam Hopkins (near-black) or Arabian Night (dark crimson) continue the dark palette from the same bed long after the sweet peas have finished. The dahlias pick up where the sweet peas leave off, and the planting never misses a beat.
Why Buy Your Sweet Pea Seedlings from Ashridge?
We have been growing sweet peas in Somerset since the early 2000s. We collect our own seed, and then hand sown it 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, in purpose-designed recycled cardboard packaging. They are ready to go into the ground or a container from the moment they arrive. 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 – endorsements that came from our customers, not our marketing team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dark is Almost Black?
In shade it reads as near-black. In full sun the petals reveal a deep chocolate-maroon with warm brown undertones. The colour darkens slightly as each bloom matures. It is the closest to true black in our collection – only Black Knight (a heritage Grandiflora) comes close, with a more purely maroon character.
How does Almost Black compare to Heathcliff and Black Knight?
All three are dark, but they are different plants. Black Knight is a heritage Grandiflora – smaller flowers, shorter stems, intense scent, and a long history dating to 1898. Heathcliff is a Modern Grandiflora with bigger, more ruffled flowers and good scent for a dark variety, plus an AGM. Almost Black is the most relaxed of the three: a generous, uncomplicated dark sweet pea that produces freely without demanding exhibition-level attention.
How fragrant is Almost Black?
A 3/5 on the Parsons scale. We would describe that as medium (which is still very noticeable indoors). Pretty good for a dark variety; generally, the darker the sweet pea, the less the scent. Almost Black may not fill a room, but it is far from scentless.
What should I do with Almost Black at the end of the season?
Once flowering finishes in autumn, cut the stems at ground level but leave the roots in the soil. Sweet pea roots carry nitrogen-fixing nodules that benefit the soil as they break down. Compost the tops and plan next year's display.
Will Almost Black come back next year?
Almost Black is an annual, it grows, flowers, sets seed, and dies in a single season. The good news is that you can buy more Almost Black each spring as part of our sweet pea plug collection, grown fresh on the nursery and dispatched ready to plant.
