Dianthus, Pinks and Carnations
Dianthus are very easy to grow, often called 'Pinks' not because of the colour but the edges of their 5 petaled flowers are often serrated 'pinked', they often have a 'spicy' aroma and are a popular cut flower. The name is from the Greek Dios Gods and anthos flower, flower of the Gods.
We grow many species as opposed to varieties which means they are as found in nature so ideal for a wild flower garden. All of today's varieties have been 'breed' from these original species. Even within a species there are a great variety of colour 'patterns' rather than a standard colour and pattern. This has enabled the specialist plants people to produce so many fancy varieties, into the high 100s maybe even thousands. The many different species have evolved to cope with alpine situations right through to open grass lands species, from 10 cms tall to Dianthus giganteus at 150 cms tall.
They need a well drained soil not a position where they will be standing in wet soil through the Winter, neutral to alkaline soil and full to partial Sun. We generally sow our seeds in the Autumn in a cold green house and by the following Summer have plants of a flowering size dependant on the species.
