Dianthus have so much to offer, edible flowers, evergreen foliage, drought tolerant, fragrant and even cut flowers. Best of all, Dianthus are easy to grow with a minimum of five hours of full sun. The low growing varieties are great in rock gardens and lining pathways.
Sweet Williams and carnations are excellent long lasting cut flowers. There are also brilliant bedding types that offer color all summer. Dianthus flowers are commonly found in shades of reds, pinks and white, and have a sweet clove scent. Some carnation varieties are available in yellows and oranges. They combine well with lambs ear (Stachys), Alyssum, and Sun Rose (Helianthemum).
Perennial varieties tend to bloom in May and June, with Sweet Williams, Carnations and annual varieties blooming through out the summer. Dianthus make a wonderful fragrant addition to containers and window boxes.
These Dianthus are often planted in mass or tucked into containers for bright color all summer. Even though they are sold as annuals, they are often perennial under the right conditions. Some common series found for sale in our bedding plants area include the varieties featured here.
Grows 10-12” tall and wide
Fragrant flowers in shades of pink, red and white all summer
Grows 8-10" tall and wide
Bicolor, fragrant flowers with contrasting center spring through summer
An old fashioned, favorite cut flower with large clusters of clove scented blooms in shades of red, pink and white in spring.
Tall varieties grow 1-2' tall and wide. Dwarf varieties reach 6-12" tall.
This biennial or short lived perennial. Zones 3-9.
Unique fluffy, green flowers that resemble moss balls.
Grows 10-14" tall 8-12" wide.
Hardy to 10°F.
Fragrant bright pink flowers May-October.
18-20" tall 12-14" wide.
Zones 7-11.
Crimson red flowers on 18” stems.
Zones 4-8.
A classic cut flower with frilly, rounded flowers. Perennials with evergreen blue foliage growing 12” tall and some dwarf varieties too! Drainage is important for this species.
Zones 7-10.
The “Malibu Barbie” of Dianthus. An unusual purple flower with hot pink streaks and an iridescent overlay.
Grows 12-18" tall and wide.
Zone 6-9.
Your classic small carnation flower available in shades of red, pink and white.
Grows 12-24” tall and wide.
Zones 4-9.
Prolific blooms all summer in a huge array of colors.
Dwarf habit growing 8-10" tall 6-8" wide.
Zones 6-9.
Perfect for containers and as gifts.
A shorter group growing 6-10” tall and 18-24”wide with deciduous green foliage. The flowers are often single or semi-double in shades of pink and red. Great edging borders and rock gardens.
Zones 3-9.
Small single red flowers May-June atop bronzy green leaves.
Single white flowers with a red eye. Grows 6-8” tall and 18’ wide.
A low growing group (6-12” tall) with lovely evergreen, blue foliage.
Heavy bloomers with single or semi-double, clove-scented flowers in May and June.
Diverse selection of different varieties offering flowers in single colors, blotched petals and fringed edges!
Great in containers, rock gardens and edging pathways.
Combines well with Iberis, Lithodora or Aubrieta.
Zones 3-9.
This short and spicy group offer a uniform clean growth habit and abundant flowers with contrasting eye color.
Evergreen, grows 6-12" tall and wide.
Zone 5.
Includes ‘Double Star Starlette’, ‘Peppermint Star’, and 'Neon Star'.
Excellent choice for a ground cover. Grows 3-6” tall 10" wide and can tolerate low amounts of foot traffic
Masses of double rich pink flowers May-June.
Zones 3-8.
One of the first Dianthus to bloom with fragrant, single, magenta flowers.
Grows 6-8" tall 12" wide.
Zones 3-8.
Inventory varies daily April through October. Please contact us for current availability.
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Dianthus
Common Name: Pink, Sweet William, Carnation
Origin: Around 300 species are found mostly in Europe and Asia.
Culture: Grow in full to part sun, well drained soil, and regular in the first year to establish perennial varieties. Dianthus appreciate some lime added to the hole at planting time.
Maintenance: Side dress perennial varieties with an all purpose granular fertilizer and lime in spring. Fertilize annual types two to three times with a liquid bloom fertilizer through the summer.
Cut back D. barbatus (Sweet William) by 1/3 to ½ after flowering to keep as a perennial, and divide every two to three years. D. deltoids and be cut back in the same manner as Sweet Williams to deter plants from dying out in the center.
D. gratianopolitanus should be sheared back by 1/3 after flowering to prevent die out in the center of the plant.
Additional qualities: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer resistant. Fragrant. Drought tolerant.
Pest and Diseases: Slugs, snails, crown root, rust, cutworms, aphids, spider mites, botrytis, leaf spot.
We have a wonderful selection of perennials year round, but if you are looking for a specific perennial we will have the best selection when it is in bloom around town. Note: Native plant pages will take you into the Native Plant section.
