Dianthus barbatus
Sweet Black Cherry

Velvety, spicy-scented, and almost impossibly rich in color, Dianthus barbatus ‘Sweet Black Cherry’ carries dense clusters of deep burgundy flowers that read nearly black in cool evening light. The delicious clove-like fragrance and tiny contrasting stamens invite close inspection, while sturdy upright stems make the blooms every bit as useful in a vase as they are in the garden.

Growing about 18–24 inches tall, this dark Sweet William brings old-fashioned cottage charm with a decidedly modern mood. Plant it in borders, cutting beds, pollinator gardens, or containers near paths and patios where its fragrance will not go unnoticed. The near-black blooms are ravishing beside blush pink, apricot, smoky violet, chartreuse, white, or silver foliage.

Give ‘Sweet Black Cherry’ full sun to light afternoon shade, well-drained soil, and regular water. It is generally grown as a biennial or short-lived perennial, flowering generously from late spring into summer. Deadheading keeps the plants fresh and can encourage additional bloom; leaving several heads allows seed to mature. Good air circulation is helpful in humid conditions. Romantic, fragrant, and wonderfully easy to combine, it delivers everything we want from Sweet William—plus that irresistible dark twist. Explore our Explore more Dianthus and carnations.

We guarantee that the plants we sell are healthy and viable at the time they leave our care.

If a plant arrives in substandard condition, please take clear photographs and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. To ensure eligibility under this guarantee, we strongly encourage you to open and unpack your shipment immediately upon delivery and inspect the plants thoroughly.

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$14.99 flat rate for up to 6 plants is for standard FedEx/UPS Ground shipping to eligible states only. $19.99 for up to 12 plants. Plants being shipped to the following states are sent via Express Mail to help ensure they arrive quickly and healthy. 

(AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV)
(list of states subject to change seasonally due to extreme heat or cold conditions)

We cannot ship Annie's Annuals plants to P.O. boxes or outside the continental U.S.

Individual plants are shipped in 4" pots and we ship in boxes of 4, 6, 8, or 12 plants per box.

For more details, read our full Ordering and Shipping Policies

Get your plants off to a strong start with our care guide.

Download the Plant Care Guide (PDF)