Have an Explosion of Pinks in your Garden

Dianthus, also called pinks, is an old flower that graced Victorian gardens of the past and are as viable in gardens of today as they were then. They come in all shades of pink (thus the name pinks), red, reddish purple, and burgundy with white spots or borders. They have 5 petals that are ruffled or fringed and are about 1 to 1-1/2 inch in diameter, and their green foliage is feathery – 10 to 20 inches tall staying green throughout the winter in most areas. Dianthus grows well in clumps and is commonly used as borders because of its bushy attitude. The flowers have a spicy, fragrant scent.

Dianthus can be planted in just about any type of soil as long as it is well drained. The plant enjoys a sunny spot and will tolerate shade but will not flower as profusely. There are perennial varieties and annuals that will reseed if some plants are left to seed before winter. Pinks are hardy in zones 3 to 9.

To propagate Dianthus you can start by seed indoors in very early spring and transplant when the danger of frost is over. Seed can also be started outside when the ground gets warm but the flowers may not bloom until late in the season. Propagation can also be done by division in the spring when they start to grow. Dianthus can be found in nurseries and planted in your garden. This is probably the easiest way to start them.

Dianthus bloom from late spring to fall in constant fashion. The dead flowers should be removed to promote more bloom. Never put mulch under Pinks. They are particularly susceptible to stem rot and need a lot of air circulation around the closely packed stems. They are rarely attacked by insects or diseases but can be affected by mildew in warm humid weather. This is a good flower to grow in a beginner garden because there isn’t much you can do wrong with it. Give this plant a shot of 10-10-10 fertilizer every six to eight weeks in the summer. Pinks won’t take over your garden by spreading but clumps will get bigger every year. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years.

Butterflies love Pinks. Plant them in the ground with many different varieties together to create a blanket of color. Dianthus can also be planted in containers and look spectacular with purple or yellow flowering plants growing along side. With over 300 varieties there is never a shortage of patterns you can create with Dianthus.

Dianthus

Pinks

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