Dianthus barbatus (Nigrescens Group) 'Black Adder'

Dianthus barbatus 'Black Adder' is an original selection of sweet William, with particularly dark colours. In this small plant, the leaves are tinted with metallic blackish red on a green background, and the purple stems bear flowers of a dark crimson red that turn black in full sun. They appear from May and can continue for 2 months if the faded stems are regularly removed. The cut flowers, pleasantly scented, are lovely in a vase. Very pretty with small coppery grasses like Carex comans 'Bronze'.

Dianthus barbatus is a plant of the Caryophyllaceae family found in many temperate regions of Europe and Asia. The nigrescens form, which originated the 'Black Adder' selection, is characterized by the mahogany or purplish colour with black metallic reflections of its vegetation and the intense chocolate red tone of its flowers. Not very perennial because not very hardy, it is mostly considered biennial, flowering in the second year after sowing. The plant forms a very tight basal clump in the first year, composed of long pointed leaves that sheath the stems at the base. Their purple-black colour is very elegant in winter, in a flowerless bed. The flowering of the 'Black Adder' selection takes place from May to July, depending on the sowing date. Its almost black flower buds, opening into single, velvety and fringed flowers, are gathered in flattened cymes, at the end of thin and sturdy purple stems that stand 40-50cm (16-20in) above the ground. The flowers are a deep red-brown, slightly more pink towards the center. They hold up very well in a vase. The fragrance of the flowers is both spicy and sweet, reminiscent of cloves and cinnamon.