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
• Plant Patent: USPP 28,605 / Can 6,727

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: Iris 'Black Joker' brings deep purple flowers and slim, upright leaves in May and June, a moody match for these dark bicolour pinks. Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies' adds a light, airy layer of white flowers at 60 to 90 cm from June to September. Toward the back, Symphyotrichum shortii closes the season with blue asters from August to October. All four grow happily in full sun or partial sun.

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.