Dianthus Plants

A cottage garden must-have that’s equally at home in the city, Dianthus comes in a myriad of colour tones, all with those distinctive ‘pinked’ edges. Perfect for the front of borders or for container displays, Dianthus plants grow in clumps of vibrant foliage, with flowers that keep coming all summer and right up to the first frosts. All this as well as being hardy, easy to care for and great for cutting - the more compact varieties are ideal for pots, window boxes and even hanging baskets.

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Which dianthus?

Dianthus can have single or double flowers - the single varieties are best for attracting bees and butterflies as they’re more accessible. All dianthus are scented, but for a real impact, choose one bred for fragrance such as Scented Memories or Tickled Pink. The bicoloured dianthus varieties (such as the Cocktail Collection) are particularly striking in pots.

Planting schemes and partners

The compact height of Dianthus means they won’t need any support while growing and can be planted anywhere from the front of borders to patio pots and even in hanging baskets. They’re great for filling in spaces in flower beds and for planting along the edges of paths and lawns with similarly low growing plants like erysimum and hardy geranium. You can even use them to decorate salads, drinks and bakes because the petals are edible.

Growing tips

Dianthus is a very easy going plant which can thrive in most garden conditions. It prefers a position in full sun with well-drained soil, but apart from that can be left to its own devices. These tough little flowers typically have no issues with pests or diseases, don’t need feeding and have excellent drought tolerance. Find out more here.