Description
Dianthus superbus | Fringed Pink ‘Crimsonia’
Pink, also known as Cottage Pinks or Garden Pinks, are a genus of flower that includes 300 varieties grown as annuals, biennials and evergreen perennials. While many cottage pinks are in fact pink, that is not why they bear that name. The name comes from an old English word for the scissors that tailors use to serrate or zigzag the edges of fabric. “Pynken” were shears that gave fabric the same ragged or serrated edges these little flowers have. Now folks call them “pinking shears.”
‘Crimsonia’ Pink is a 2ft x 2ft perennial with blue and green grassy-type foliage and come summer, highly aromatic, exotic-looking crimson-red and fuschia colored flowers with deeply cut, fringed petals and pink calyxes, emerge. The perfume is potent and intoxicating, filling the surrounding air with its powdery floral aroma. A rare specimen for the fragrance garden.
Suitable for rock gardens, along paths, in perennial gardens, and along borders. Plants do exceptionally well in heat and drought conditions in average, gritty and well-drained soils. Over-watering or clay soils is the kiss of death for most Dianthus varieties. Easy to grow and blooms from seed the first year. It’ll bloom more than once if dead-headed! A good option if you’re seeking something heat tolerant.
Dianthus superbus ‘Crimsonia’ attracts birds and butterflies, making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens.
Sow outdoors September through February, or start seeds indoors with heat, humidity, and light. Germinates best when overwintered. Seeds can take up to 30 days to germinate.
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mature height: 18-24 inches
Mature width: 18-24 inches
Hardiness zone: 4-8
