Dianthus barbatus 'Flora Pearl White-Red' – Ultra-early two-tone sweet william for greenhouse and cut flower cultivation

Dianthus barbatus 'Flora Pearl White-Red' is a striking and vigorous variety within the well-known Flora Pearl series. With its beautiful bicolor flower clusters—white with an intense red edge—this cultivar combines graceful elegance with professional cultivation quality. Thanks to its early flowering, strong, tall stems, and uniform growth, this variety is ideal for greenhouse cultivation, cut flower production, and cutting gardens where reliability and aesthetics are paramount.

Earliest series on the market – 4–7 days earlier than Etournelle

The Flora Pearl series is known as the earliest-flowering Dianthus barbatus series on the market, and the 'White-Red' variety fully confirms this reputation. This cultivar blooms 4 to 7 days earlier than the Etournelle line, which has long been the standard in early cut flower cultivation.

The early flowering offers several advantages for professional growers:

• Faster market access in early spring

• Improved sales opportunities during the first peak weeks

• Efficient crop planning and crop rotation

• Competitive advantage through a predictable and uniform harvest

Under glass, the plant makes optimal use of these ultra-violet properties, meaning the first cut flowers are available early in the season.

Strong, tall stems – professionally suitable for cut flowers

One of the most important characteristics of the Flora Pearl White-Red is its exceptional stem strength. The stems are:

• Long and straight, ideal for commercial harvesting and bouquets

• Robust and sturdy, keeping the flower clusters stable

• Uniform in height and structure, essential for professional processing

The flowers are bicolored: the center is bright white and the outer edges are deep red, creating a striking contrast and a luxurious appearance. This combination makes the plant particularly suitable for bouquets, arrangements, and cut-flower gardens where a powerful splash of color is desired.

Perfect for growing under glass

The Dianthus barbatus 'Flora Pearl White-Red' performs best in greenhouse or tunnel cultivation. Under controlled conditions, the plant develops:

• Higher, more powerful stems than with outdoor cultivation

• Complete uniformity in growth and flowering

• Constant, predictable production

• High-quality flower clusters with compact, full flowers

For professional cut flower growers, this means maximum reliability and a high-quality harvest that can be delivered early and consistently.

Flowering after overwintering – sow in late summer

This Dianthus variety blooms after an overwintering period, making sowing time crucial. For optimal early flowering, sowing in late summer is recommended, allowing the plants to develop well and overwinter in the autumn.

Cultivation advice:

• Sowing: July – September

• Cultivation: late summer and autumn, keep moderately moist

• Wintering: cool, light and sheltered

• Flowering: very early spring to summer

During the winter, the plant develops a strong root system and compact basal buds. As soon as spring arrives, it grows rapidly, producing strong, cut-worthy stems with impressive two-toned flower clusters.

Applications and ornamental value

Although developed for professional cut flower cultivation, the 'White-Red' is also a beautiful addition to private gardens and cut flower gardens:

• Pick-your-own gardens: produces long, strong stems with striking flowers

• Borders: adds a strong color contrast

• Cottage gardens: perfect for romantic, colorful gardens

• Greenhouse cultivation: provides predictable and uniform harvest results

The striking two-tone flowers make it a real eye-catcher and instantly create a luxurious look in any bouquet or garden design.