Sweet Pea 'Black Magic'

At a Glance

Quick Facts

• Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus
• Classification: Modern Grandiflora
• Petal Pattern: Flake / Marbled
• Color Profile: Deep violet flakes on a smoky (sooty) ground
• Fragrance: Strong
• Breeder: Phil Johnson
• Year Introduced: 2025/2026
• Flowering Type: Summer-Flowering

Overview

'Black Magic' is an extraordinarily unique Modern Grandiflora that introduces a completely new color combination to the sweet pea world. Featuring dramatic, deep violet flakes scattered across a moody, smoky ground, this variety combines a highly striking visual appearance with a very strong, highly-rated fragrance. Because it is a Modern Grandiflora, it beautifully merges the intoxicating, complex scent profile of antique sweet peas with the longer, more robust stems demanded by modern cut-flower growers, typically producing four lovely blooms per stem.

Growth Habit

Exhibiting the vigorous, tall-climbing nature characteristic of summer-flowering sweet peas, 'Black Magic' requires a sturdy vertical support system. Whether trained up bamboo teepees, netting, or a tall garden trellis, its climbing vines need adequate structure to ascend properly and display its uniquely marked blooms.

Cultivation Notes

For the finest, longest-stemmed blooms, this vine should be planted in a sunny location with deeply dug, enriched, and well-draining soil. To maximize its strong scent and bold color, ensure it is kept well-watered and fed throughout the growing season. As with all sweet peas, diligent harvesting and the removal of spent flowers are crucial to prevent the plant from setting seed and to prolong its blooming window.

Historical Notes

This innovative variety was bred by Phil Johnson, one of the few professional sweet pea breeders operating in the world today, who runs his breeding program (English Sweet Peas) in East Anglia, UK. It makes its highly anticipated official introduction at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2026.

In the Garden

Grown For: Its incredibly unique smoky, violet-flaked coloration, its strong and captivating fragrance, and its excellent performance as a distinctive cut flower.

Companion Planting

To make the dark, sooty violet flakes truly pop, pair 'Black Magic' with a crisp, pure white variety like 'Wild Swan'. Alternatively, blend it with deep, moody solids like 'Almost Black' or 'Dark Passion' to create a rich, dramatic, and highly sophisticated floral arrangement.