Sweet™ Black Cherry Dianthus

Sweet™ Black Cherry is a fragrant, upright Sweet William selection with strong stems for cutting gardens. Ball Seed’s exact product profile lists 18–36 inches tall, 10–12 inches wide, zones 6a–8b, sun or partial sun, light water, and flowering in early spring, spring, autumn and winter ([Ball Seed](https://info.ballseed.com/PlantInfo/?phid=022502007009723)). ## Garden use The named Black Cherry flowers are described as dark burgundy-red by a current seed retailer ([Therapy of Flowers](https://www.therapyofflowers.com/products/dianthus-barbatus-sweet-black-cherry-f1-sweet-william-pelleted)). Use its rounded clusters in cutting beds, cottage borders or mixed containers; Ball Seed describes the Sweet series as fragrant, low maintenance and suitable for cut flowers, with long, straight stems. ## Growing conditions Give plants sun or partial sun and a moist, freely draining soil. NC State Extension describes Sweet William as a biennial or short-lived perennial often grown as an annual, and recommends loam with good drainage; partial shade can help in hot summer climates ([NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dianthus-barbatus/common-name/sweet-william/)). The commercial Sweet program can be scheduled without vernalisation, but that production flexibility does not mean outdoor plants naturally bloom in every season. ## Maintenance Avoid saturated soil, which NC State associates with crown rot and rust in D. barbatus. For bouquets, PanAmerican’s Sweet production guide recommends cutting stems once several flowers in a cluster are open; the guide’s greenhouse and field timing is commercial crop advice, not a promise of a second garden flush ([PanAmerican Seed](https://catalog.panamseed.com/view/666424586/133/)).