Dianthus

( dye - ANTH - us )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly referred to as Carnations, Sweet William, or simply Pink, this genus of perennials, biennials and annuals need light shade in the hottest climates and regular water. The colorful flowers will attract butterflies and other pollinators to your garden. Most species form evergreen mats of foliage, and spring to summer flowers come in single, semi-double or double forms in colors like white, pink, rose, red, yellow and orange. Many species' blooms have a rich, spicy fragrance. Use these classic flowers in mixed beds, in pots, as border plantings, or massed together. Take care when planting certain species in your garden, as ingestion of plant parts can cause toxicity reactions in humans and pets.

Dianthus Species and Varietals

The genus Dianthus is comprised of 300 species (including a wide variety of hybrids), and is a member of the plant family Caryophyllaceae. The best growing zones for Dianthus vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Dianthus acicularis
This perennial species of Pink is native to eastern European Russia and western Siberia, Kazakhstan, and China. This species has a good resistance to bacterial wilt, and therefore is used in many modern carnation breeding programs. Fragrant flowers are white, and petals are fringed n the outer edge. Foliage is green.

Dianthus alpinus (Alpine Pink)
​These plants form low mats of grey-green foliage and produce deep cerise pink flowers with white spots in June through August. Alpine Pink is native to the eastern Alps in Austria. These plants prefer to be situated in full sun, and are wonderful for cooler-climate rock gardens.

Dianthus Allwoodii hybrids
This perennial plants vary in size, most conforming to a shape 12-15 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Foliage is grey-green and blossoms bloom two per stem. Flower colors come in pink, white or red and smell of clove. They have a long blooming period if deadheaded regularly.

Dianthus arenarius (Sand Pink)
This perennial hails from Europe and gets to 1.5 feet tall and wide. Leaves are grass-like and green; flowers are white and sometimes fringed in green or purple. These are highly fragrant plants, and can also tolerate some shade, making them great candidates for planting beds under canopy coverage. Variety 'Little Maiden' is a dwarf cultivar.

Dianthus armeria (Deptford Pink, Grass Pink)
This wildflower-type Dianthus is native to most of Europe and has naturalized in many areas of North America and New Zealand. These are annual or biennial plants that reach about 2 feet tall at maturity, and have a very slender appearance, hence the common name Grass Pink. These plants prefer to grow in open grassy areas and in disturbed soils. Flowers are scentless, and close up in low light conditions.

​Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William)
This species is biennial but commonly is treated as an annual and is from southern Europe. It gets 20 inches tall and 12 inches wide, and has sturdy stems with green leaves. Flowers form in dense clusters of white, pink, rose, red, purplish, or bicolor. They are not as fragrant as other species. Seeds can be sown in late spring for bloom in the following year. Varieties with double blooms and dwarf habits are also available. Common varietals include 'Indian Carpet' (up to 6 inches tall) and those in the Amazon series (to 18-36 inches tall).

Dianthus broteri
Endemic to Portugal and Spain, this species of Dianthus produces very fringed flower petals in shades of pink to white. They prefer to grow near coastal areas.

Dianthus calizonus (Beauty's Girdle, Garofita Pietrei Craiului)
This species is endemic to Romania, and produces open-faced pink flowers with dark pink markings. Foliage is light greyish green and forms a basal tuft, from which spring and summertime flower stems emerge each year.

​​Dianthus caryophyllus (Carnation, Clove Pink)
This perennial grows best in zones A2, A3, 1-24 and H1. Native to the Mediterranean, this is a highly popular species that includes two types of plants: those bred for florists and border varieties. Both types have double flowers, a branching habit and are often woody at the base.
Dianthus chinensis (Chinese Pink, Rainbow Pink)
This species is used as a biennial or short-lived perennial, and many varieties are grown as annuals. They have an erect habit, growing 6-30 inches tall and 6-10 feet wide. Flowers are rosey lilac with deeper colored eyes and are not fragrant. Varietals are more compact with flowers in white, pink, red, or bicolor. Common varieties are outlined below.
'Fire Carpet'
A selection with solid red blooms.
'Snowfire'
​White flowers have a red eye.
Telstar Strain
This variety grows 6-8 inches tall and has a bushy habit and dark green leaves.

​Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pink)
This perennial is native to Europe and Asia, and forms an 8-12 inch tall mat that is about a foot wide. Flower colors come in white and shades of rose and purple, and are usually spotted with lighter colors. These bloom in summer and at times again in fall. Can be used as a groundcover. Varieties include 'Albus' (white flowers), 'Arctic Fire' (white flowers with red centers), 'Brilliant' (with red-pink blooms), and 'Pixie Star' (pink flowers with dark pink centers).

Dianthus giganteus (Giant Pink)
This Romanian native species is useful in beds in which a taller background plant is needed. They produce pink flowers in terminal infloresences. Giant Pink reaches about 3 feet tall at maturity.

​Dianthus gratianopolitanus (Dianthus caesius) (Cheddar Pink, Clove Pink)
This perennial from Europe forms a neat, foot-wide mat of bluish green foliage and flowers in pink to rose. They are very fragrant, and last spring though fall. This species is great in rock gardens and when used as a groundcover. Varieties include 'Firewitch' (with magenta flowers, pictured), 'Baths' Pink' (with soft pink flowers on 12-15 inch tall stems), and 'Tiny Rubies' (dwarf plant with double ruby-red flowers).

​Dianthus hyssopifolius (Fringed Pink)
Native to Portugal, Spain and France (and an introduced plant in Great Britain). These subshrubs are commonly available at nurseries, producing beautifully fringed flowers in pink to purple. 

Dianthus japonicus (Seashore Pink)
This perennial species of Dianthus produces thick, ovate foliage that differs from that of most other species in the genus. Flowers are white to pink, and petals are fringed on the outer edges. These plants are native to Japan, and prefer to grow in rocky coastal habitats. In cooler weather, foliage takes on darker red hues.

Dianthus pavonius (Peacock-Eye Pink)
This species of Pink is native to France and Italy's mountainous areas, and produces a plant that reaches about 10 inches at maturity. Pink flowers are borne on short stems in the months of April and May, and have blue or brown centers. These flowers prefer growing in grasslands and sunny areas.
Dianthus plumerius (Cottage Pink)
This perennial grows best in zones A1 and 1-24 and is native to Europe. It has many hybrid varieties, outlined below. Tpically, it forms a loose grey-green mate 2 feet wide, with flower stems reaching 10-28 inches tall and spicy-fragrant flowers. Flowers are commonly dark centered and come in rose, pink, or white.
'Essex Witch'
Semi-double rose-colored flowers bloom atop 5-inch tall stems.
'Sweetness'
Flowers have dark centers and top 4-inch stems. 
'Musgrave's Pink'
200-year old variety that is a garden classic, stands at 1 foot tall and produces highly fragrant, single white blooms with green eyes. 

Caring for Dianthus

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 000 - 000, Name
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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