Selected cultivar of Dianthus alpinus, 'Velours Bordeaux' shares the dense and low cushion habit of the species, between 5 and 10 cm in height, but is immediately distinguished by the intense pigmentation of the entire plant: leaves and stems are heavily tinged with dark purple-brown, giving the cushion a brown tone even before flowering.
The flowers, borne in generous numbers, are a deep crimson-burgundy, slightly velvety, which photography struggles to capture in all its chromatic richness. The center is occupied by a dense mass of dark red stamens, without a well-defined white zone, which enhances the effect of depth and color density. The petals are toothed at the edge. In cultivation, flowering occurs from May to July.
This cultivar thus combines two levels of ornamentation — colored foliage and flowers of a rare hue in the genus — which places it among the most sought-after selections by alpine rock garden enthusiasts. It requires, like all Dianthus alpinus, calcareous soil, perfect drainage, and full sun exposure, without stagnant moisture in winter.