Dianthus barbatus Sweet™ Black Cherry F1 | Sweet William | Pelleted

Dianthus barbatus Sweet™ Black Cherry F1 | Sweet William | Pelleted

A premium Sweet William for cut flowers with dramatic dark cherry blooms, strong stems and first-year flowering without vernalisation.

Dianthus barbatus Sweet™ Black Cherry F1 is a professional cut flower variety from the outstanding Sweet™ series, producing large, fragrant flower clusters in a rich, dark black-cherry colour. Its strong, straight stems and distinctive deep colour make it an exceptional choice for cut flower gardens, bouquets and professional floristry.

One of the greatest advantages of the Sweet™ series is that it does not require vernalisation to flower in the first year. This makes Sweet™ Black Cherry easier and more flexible to grow than traditional biennial Sweet William, especially for gardeners who want flowers in the first season. The series performs particularly well in cooler growing conditions and can be grown in greenhouses, high tunnels or outdoors.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Dianthus barbatus
• Common name: Sweet William
• Series: Sweet™ F1
• Variety: Black Cherry
• Flower colour: Deep black cherry / dark burgundy-red
• Stem length: 46–91 cm
• Flower type: Large, fragrant flower clusters
• Position: Full sun
• Use: Cut flowers, bouquets, floristry
• Seed form: Pelleted
• First-year flowering: Yes
• Vernalisation: Not required

Perfect for Cut Flowers & Floristry

Sweet™ Black Cherry F1 was developed specifically for high-quality cut flower production. The plants produce strong stems topped with large, fragrant flower clusters, creating excellent volume and texture in bouquets. The breeder classifies the Sweet™ series as a filler and secondary cut flower.

The sophisticated dark cherry colour is particularly beautiful in romantic, vintage and dramatic floral arrangements, pairing wonderfully with blush pink, apricot, cream, white and other burgundy-toned flowers.

First-Year Flowering – No Vernalisation Required

Unlike traditional Sweet William, the Sweet™ series can be produced without vernalisation, allowing plants to flower in their first growing season. This gives growers much greater flexibility and makes the variety particularly valuable for planned cut flower production.

Sowing & Growing

Sow 1 pelleted seed per cell and lightly cover the seed. Keep the growing medium evenly moist during germination.

• Seeds per cell: 1
• Germination temperature: 18–20°C
• Germination: approx. 3–4 days under optimum conditions
• Plug crop time: approx. 5–6 weeks
• Growing conditions: Best in full sun and cooler temperatures

After germination, gradually cooler conditions help develop strong plants. High light is beneficial, while excessive heat combined with high light can result in shorter stems.

Harvesting

For the best cut flower quality, harvest when approximately 20–50% of the florets in each flower cluster are open. Plants can be harvested continuously for approximately 2–3 weeks, and under suitable conditions a second flush can develop after cutting back.

Why Choose Sweet™ Black Cherry F1?

• Exceptional dark black-cherry colour
• Professional variety bred for cut flowers
• Flowers in the first year
• No vernalisation required
• Large, fragrant flower clusters
• Strong, straight stems
• Excellent filler flower for bouquets
• Particularly well suited to cooler growing conditions
• Suitable for greenhouse, high tunnel and outdoor production
• Pelleted seed for easier and more precise sowing

Dianthus barbatus Sweet™ Black Cherry F1 combines an extraordinary dark colour with fragrance, strong stems and professional cut flower performance. An excellent choice for anyone looking for a distinctive Sweet William for beautiful garden-grown bouquets and modern floristry.