I Add Spice to the Garden

Perennial of the Week: Dianthus – ‘Pinks’

Known to the Greeks as the divine flower, Dianthus is one of the world’s oldest cultivated flowering plants.

There are currently about 30,000 known Dianthus cultivars, which include the Carnation (D. caryophyllus), Sweet William (D. barbatus), and the Pink (D. plumarius).

Over time, the origin of the name Pink has become a bit muddied. Some say the flowers borrowed their name from their most common color. Others say “pink” – a verb that refers to the creation of a perforated or punched pattern – describes the fancy outer edges of the flower’s petals. (Think of pinking shears, here.) Yet a third story tells us that “Pink” was derived from pinksten (or pfingsten), the German term for flowers that bloom at Pentecost.

One thing is certain: There is a variety of Dianthus for nearly every place in the garden. Small and compact Sweet Williams make excellent border plants, and bloom in a wide cluster that is generally bi-colored. Other mid-height and tall Dianthus varieties add interest to the landscape with thick, gray-green linear leaves and stems that send up spectacularly ruffled flowers in white, pink, and red – some of which have striking markings.

Dianthus shines in all of its various forms, producing single or double flowers that evoke delight in the garden and indoors as long-lasting cut flowers.

Their visual appeal is legendary, but it must have been the irresistible clove-like scent of Dianthus flowers that led gardeners to think them “good enough to eat.” The Spanish used Dianthus to add a spicy flavor to their beverages. Modern foodies infuse whipping cream and poaching liquids with Dianthus. Several moth and butterfly species also find Dianthus delicious, but prefer theirs uncooked.

Dianthus prefer a sunny well drained location. They are deer resistant and make good cut flowers. Dead heading/trimming off past flowers will encourage re-blooming. There are numerous varieties of Dianthus to choose from and currently we are offering five Rohsler’s Grown varieties: Peppermint Star, Fire Star, Frosty Fire, Sugar Plum and Sweet William ‘Red Picotee”. Add some Dianthus to your garden today and enjoy its foliage, texture and color throughout the summer – and for many years to come.