Dianthus

Dianthus needs to be added to the list of garden toughies that are water-wise, don’t mind neglect and outlast most other garden annuals. In their traditional colours of pink, purple, red, white, and even bi-coloured, these beautiful little flowers are as striking as they are generous.

The name is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘flower of the gods’. This is a stalwart of any garden and just keeps on giving with flush after flush of flowers. Dianthuses are therefore excellent value for money.

Dianthus are commonly known as Sweet William, Pinks or Carnations. Due to their hardiness, they can be planted in autumn and spring. If you plant yours in autumn, it will flower through winter into spring and summer, and only by next autumn will plants be well and truly exhausted.

Why plant them

Dianthuses are low-maintenance, tough and versatile. They come in many different sizes and can therefore be used as bedding plants, in flower borders or in containers. They provide one of the most spectacular year-round colour displays in your garden. Plus, they attract butterflies and birds to the garden – a sweet reward for every gardener.

What they need

These sunny annuals need at least 6 hours of sun a day. They will do okay in partial shade but avoid planting in deep shade. In deep shade, they don’t do well when forming a mat and may begin to rot.

Dianthus needs soil that drains well, which means they are good for coastal gardens. Make sure the soil is enriched with plenty of compost and a balanced slow-release fertiliser. If your garden has heavy soil and a bit too much shade, grow dianthus in pots in an area with lots of sun.

It is important that there is enough air circulation around the stems to keep the plants dry, so space well when planting.

Like petunias, dianthus should not be overwatered as they rot when it is wet and hot. When watering, water the soil and keep the foliage dry. They perform best in cooler, drier weather.

Feed every 6 – 8 weeks with a balanced slow-release fertiliser during the growing season and mulch with compost.

Keeping plants neat is also easy. Wait until the flush is almost over and then cut plants back by half with garden shears. Plants shoot quickly after cutting and new flowers will appear within 3 – 4 weeks. Dianthus will flower repeatedly if cut back after flowering. Fertilise after cutting back.

Using dianthus in the garden

Dianthus are wonderful border or edging plants for mixed or herbaceous gardens. They also combine effectively with other plants in combination pots or hanging baskets. They are ideal little plants for filling up the odd gap in the spring garden where they add much-needed colour.

Pink, red and white are the shades most associated with dianthus, but there are as many colour variations as there are varieties. They come in single or double blooms, picotee edges, frilled petals, bi-colour and tricolour flowers, dark eyes, fragrance and more.

Very compact varieties are generally Dianthus chinensis. They have large single or double flowers and grow 20 – 25cm high and wide. They are best for edgings and borders.

Taller Dianthus barbatus is a mid-border plant growing 45 – 60cm high. These are the traditional ‘pinks’ and they last well in the vase, having long, pickable stems. They are available with single and double blooms.

Dianthus hybrids, usually a cross between D. chinensis and D. barbatus, have been bred for their profusion of flowers, even though the individual blooms are a little smaller. They have the boldest colours: shocking pink, neon purple and glowing crimson. They are also more heat tolerant.

Dianthus for containers

Many new pot dianthus varieties have been introduced, like ‘Pink Kisses’, which was used to support the breast cancer drive. These are compact, neat plants with single, often multi-coloured flowers. They can start off indoors and later be planted out in the garden or into a bigger patio container.

For fuller-looking containers double the number of plants. When it becomes crowded, pull out the extra plants and plant them in the garden. Water container plants more regularly and feed once a month with a liquid fertiliser.

Double-flowered Dianthus caryophyllus, also called pot carnations, are synonymous with spring, as the cool weather produces masses of spice-scented flowers in all shades of pink. Plant those from the latest ‘Oscar’ series as border plants, in pots or window boxes. 25 x 25cm.

Other Varieties To Look Out For

‘Dash’ is a compact, basal-branching series with long, straight and strong stems holding balls of tightly packed blooms just begging to be picked for the vase. These plants need no staking. Height is about 50cm with a spread of 35cm. Colours in the range include ‘Crimson’, ‘White’, ‘Magician’, ‘Violet’ and ‘Mix’.

‘Rockin’ This biennial produces vivid, slightly scented flowers, and even has good overwintering skills. You have to give ‘Rockin Red’ a go! 60 x 30cm.

‘Jolt’ Good heat tolerance with strong, dark green foliage and shockingly bright flower colours in ‘Cherry’, ‘Pink’ and ‘Pink Magic’. 50 x 35 cm.

Dianthus chinensis has given life to many ranges of annual dianthus varieties to plant in the garden. A new series called ‘Corona’ produces huge blooms in show-stopping colours on mounding, compact plants. Colours in the range include ‘Cherry Red’, ‘Rose’, ‘Salmon Red Eye’, ‘Strawberry’ and ‘White’. Size 25 x 25cm