Dianthus Fruit Punch® 'Black Cherry Frost'

Dianthus Fruit Punch® 'Black Cherry Frost': Dark Cherry Blooms With Frosted Edges

Velvety black-cherry petals, each one rimmed in frost like the glass on a very fancy cocktail. 'Black Cherry Frost' looks like it orders off the secret menu and tips the bartender in cash. DARK, MOODY AND TOTALLY WORTH IT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Dianthus hybrid
• Common Name: Pinks
• Series: Fruit Punch®, a Proven Winners® perennial
• Height: 20–25 cm (8–10 in)
• Spread: 30–36 cm (12–14 in)
• Flowers: Semi-double, velvety dark cherry red with a near-white edge and serrated petal tips, lightly clove scented
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer, with rebloom after shearing (June to August)
• Foliage: Silvery blue-green, forming a low, dense, evergreen mound
• Features: Fragrant, heat and salt tolerant, good for cutting

Where to Plant: Use it to edge a sunny path, fill the front of a border, or tuck it into a rock garden or container where you'll catch the scent. It tolerates winter salt and likes dry feet, so it is a natural for curbside beds and driveway edges.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Black Cherry Frost' at the front of a sunny, dry bed with native flowers rising behind. Phlox 'Amazing Grace' carpets the edge at 10 to 15 cm with white, red-eyed flowers in May and June. Echinacea angustifolia adds pale pink coneflowers at 30 to 60 cm in June and July. Asclepias syriaca brings fragrant pink milkweed clusters at 90 to 150 cm from July to September. Schizachyrium 'Little Red Fox' grows to 60 to 75 cm and turns red and copper in fall.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun to part sun, in average, well-drained soil. Neutral to slightly alkaline soil suits it. Good drainage matters most, because pinks hate soggy winter soil. In heavy clay, add grit or plant on a slight rise. Water through the first season, then mainly in long dry spells. Shear off the spent flowers after the first flush to tidy the mound and encourage more blooms. Leave the evergreen foliage alone over winter and clean it up in spring. Divide every few years if the centre opens up.

History: 'Black Cherry Frost' was bred by Hans Hansen of Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan, from a 2011 cross of Dianthus 'Starlette' and 'Pomegranate Kiss'. It was selected from trial seedlings in 2012 for its flower colour, compact habit and heavy flowering.

Final Thoughts: Snip a few for a jar on the counter and watch guests lean in for a sniff. DESSERT FOR THE NOSE, NO SPOON REQUIRED.