Dianthus is a genus of plants that includes carnations, pinks and Sweet William. The fragrant flowers come in a wide range of colors, heights and forms.
Start dianthus seeds indoors 8 weeks before the last frost date. Barely cover the seeds with soil. Full sun. Dianthus barbatus can be direct sown outdoors.
Dianthus barbatus Mix is a popular cottage garden plant with solid or bicolor flowers in various shades of pink, red and white. The sweetly fragrant flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Dianthus barbatus is a biennial or short-lived perennial. The seeds can be direct sown outdoors after the last frost date. Hardy in zones 3-9.
Dianthus barbatus 'Holborn Glory' is an heirloom variety of Sweet William with bicolor flowers in raspberry-red and pure white.
Sweet William 'Holborn Glory' is one of the most intriguing varieties that I've ever grown. The colorful flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Hardy in zones 3-9.
Dianthus barbatus 'Dunetti' produces clusters of dark, crimson-red flowers. The rich, deep color goes beautifully with many other perennials and annuals in the June garden.
Dianthus barbatus is a must-have plant for the cottage garden. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds . Hardy biennial in zones 3-9.
Dianthus barbatus 'Pink Beauty' blooms in June with single flowers in a lovely shade of medium pink.
Sweet William 'Pink Beauty' looks especially nice with deep violet, blue or white flowers. It's shown here with Nigella 'Miss Jekyll Blue' . It's also nice with Viola 'Bowles Black' . Hardy in zones 3-9.
Dianthus arenarius blooms in mid summer with pure white, fringed flowers on compact mounds of narrow, blue-green leaves. The flowers are lightly fragrant.
Dianthus arenarius is a good plant for the rock garden or the front of the border. It looks especially nice with deeply colored flowers like Geum 'Blazing Sunset' , which blooms at the same time. Hardy perennial in zones 3-8.
Carnation 'Giant Chabaud Mix' blooms in midsummer with large, double flowers in shades of pink, red, white, violet, yellow, salmon, orange and bicolors. The frilly flowers have a delicious clove fragrance. Wonderful for cutting .
Dianthus caryophyllus 'Chabaud Mix' is a biennial or short-lived perennial. Hardy in zones 6-10.
Carnation 'Grenadin Double Mix' is a mixture of fragrant , double flowers in shades of pink, red, burgundy, yellow and white. The plants are relatively compact, and the blue-green foliage is very attractive.
Dianthus caryophyllus 'Grenadin Double Mix' is more cold hardy than other carnations. It tolerates heat, drought and poor soil. Hardy in zones 5-10.
Carnation 'King of the Blacks' blooms in summer with double, reddish-purple flowers that are dark enough to appear black from a distance. It's a wonderful carnation for the garden or the vase.
Also known as Carnation 'Grenadin King of Blacks'. This is a selection from Grenadin Double Mix. Hardy in zones 5-10.
Carnation 'Jeanne Dionis' has pure white, double flowers with a heavenly, clove fragrance.
White carnations are very versatile. You can dye them any color you want by adding food coloring or other dye to the water in the vase. This is a fun project for kids. Hardy in zones 6-10.
Carnation 'La France' is a beautiful variety with large, fragrant, double flowers that bloom in the softest shade of pink.
Carnation 'La France' is lovely in the garden or the vase. It's the quintessential pink carnation. It combines well with crimson or white flowers, as well as other pastels. Also known as Carnation 'Chabaud La France'. Hardy in zones 6-10.
Carnation 'Picotee Mix' is an exciting mixture of striped and picoteed flowers in shades of pink, red, violet, salmon and white.
Dianthus deltoides 'Arctic Fire' has pure white flowers with a crimson-red eye. It's a lovely variety for the rock garden or the front of the border.
Dianthus 'Arctic Fire' can be grown in containers . The patterned flowers are fascinating to look at up close. The evergreen foliage is attractive, even when the plants are not blooming. Hardy perennial in zones 3-9.
Dianthus deltoides 'Flashing Light' is always a big hit with garden visitors. Everyone who sees it says, "Wow!"
Dianthus deltoides 'Brilliant' produces loads of bright red flowers in late spring to early summer. The mat-forming, evergreen plants are attractive all season.
Dianthus 'Brilliant' is a wonderful perennial for the rock garden or the edge of a path. It is drought tolerant and deer resistant . Also known as Dianthus deltoides 'Confetti Cherry Red'. Hardy perennial in zones 3-9.
Dianthus pavonius is a rare perennial that forms a cushion of grasslike foliage topped with large, reddish-pink flowers on short stems. It's a wondeful plant for the rock garden.
Dianthus pavonius is native to European Alps and grasslands. It won an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Dianthus 'Rainbow Loveliness' blooms in May and June with highly fragrant, deeply cut and fringed flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, white and bicolors. It blooms the first year from seed. Or sow in late summer for spring bloom.
Dianthus hybridus 'Rainbow Loveliness' is an heirloom flower introduced in 1925. It's a short-lived perennial, hardy in zones 3-8.
Dianthus carthusianorum blooms in June and July with clusters of cool pink flowers on the tops of tall stems. It attracts butterflies.
In my garden, Dianthus carthusianorum looks lovely with Digitalis lutea and Nigella damascena . It's shown here poking through the foliage of a rose . Hardy perennial in zones 5-9.
Dianthus cruentus is a rare species that is native to Turkey. The clusters of deep crimson-red flowers bloom in June on the tops of tall, narrow stems. It forms clumps of blue-green, grass-like foliage.
Dianthus cruentus is drought tolerant, and it requires well-drained soil in full sun. It's a good choice for the rock garden . Hardy perennial in zones 6-9.
Dianthus pinifolius forms small mounds of grass-like leaves with narrow stems of clustered, crimson-red flowers. The tiny flowers attract butterflies.
Dianthus pinifolius blooms in late spring to early summer, adding a touch of airy grace to the rock garden. It is surprisingly tough, tolerating drought and poor soil. I grow it along the edge of the driveway. Hardy perennial in zones 4-8.