Plant care & info

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Genus: Dianthus

Common Name: Sweet William, Carnation

Around 300 species are found mostly in Europe and Asia.

Grow in full to part sun, well drained soil, and regular water in the first year to establish perennial varieties. Dianthus appreciate some lime added to the hole at planting time.

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. Dianthus deltoids and be cut back in the same manner as Sweet Williams to deter plants from dying out in the center.

Dianthus gratianopolitanus should be sheared back by 1/3 after flowering to prevent die out in the center of the plant.

Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer resistant. Fragrant. Drought tolerant.

Slugs, snails, crown root, rust, cutworms, aphids, spider mites, botrytis, leaf spot.

Carnation (Latin Dianthus) sort Raspberry Parfait. Flowers are in the city street in the flower bed. Carnation is a genus of perennial plants of the Clove family (Caryophyllaceae).

Best of all, Dianthus are easy to grow with a minimum of five hours of full sun. The low growing varieties are great for rock gardens and lining pathways.

Commonly known as Carnation and Sweet William, Dianthus flowers can be found in shades of reds, pinks and white—and some carnation varieties are even 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 throughout the summer. Dianthus make a wonderful, fragrant addition to containers and window boxes alike.

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Bedding Varieties

Bedding Varieties
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.

Dianthus Ideal Series
Grows 10-12″ tall and wide. Fragrant flowers in shades of pink, red and white persist through summer.

Dianthus Parfait Series
Grows 8-10″ tall and wide. Bicolor, fragrant flowers with contrasting center spring through summer.

Sweet William

Dianthus barbatus: Sweet William
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. Sweet William is a biennial or short lived perennial. Zones 3-9.

Dianthus barbatus ‘Green Ball’
Unique fluffy, green flowers that resemble moss balls. Grows 10-14″ tall 8-12″ wide. Hardy to 10°F.

Dianthus barbatus ‘Jolt Cherry’
Fragrant bright pink flowers May-October. 18-20″ tall 12-14″ wide. Zones 7-11.

Dianthus barbatus ‘Sooty’
Crimson red flowers on 18” stems. Zones 4-8.

Carnation

Dianthus caryophyllus: Carnation
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.

Dianthus ‘Chomley Farran’
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.

Dianthus ‘Grenadin Series’
Your classic small carnation flower is available in shades of red, pink and white. Grows 12-24” tall and wide. Zones 4-9.

Dianthus ‘Super Trooper’ series
Prolific blooms all summer in a huge array of colors. Dwarf habit reaching 8-10″ tall 6-8″ wide. Zones 6-9. Perfect for containers and as gifts.

Maiden Pinks

Dianthus deltoides: Maiden Pinks
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.

Dianthus deltoides ‘Flashing Lights’
Small single red flowers May-June atop bronzy green leaves.

Dianthus deltoides ‘Arctic Fire’
Single white flowers with a red eye. Grows 6-8” tall and 18’ wide.

Bath’s Pink / Cheddar Pink

Dianthus gratianopolitanus: Bath’s Pink, Cheddar Pink

A low growing group (6-12” tall) with lovely evergreen, blue foliage. They’re heavy bloomers with single or semi-double, clove-scented flowers in May and June. They’re also great in containers, rock gardens and edging pathways. Combines well with Iberis, Lithodora or Aubrieta. Zones 3-9.

Star and Double Star Series

Dianthus: Star and Double Star Series

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. Popular varieties includes ‘Double Star Starlette’, ‘Peppermint Star’, and ‘Neon Star’.

Tiny Rubies

Dianthus: ‘Tiny Rubies’

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.