Description
Dianthus deltoides | Maiden Pink ‘True wild form’
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. The perennial form here—also called Pinks—are evergreen or semi-evergreen. 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.”
This low-growing true wild Dianthus variety is suitable for rock gardens, along paths, as a ground cover, and along borders as the masses of small blindingly bright-pink flowers carpet the soil beneath them. All Dianthus varieties prefer good drainage. Overwatering or clay soil is the kiss of death for them. Most Dianthus species have silvery-blue foliage that resembles clumps of ornamental grass that is attractive even when the plant is not in bloom.
Plants do exceptionally well in heat and drought conditions. Easy to grow and blooms from seed the first year. More than once, if dead-headed! Dianthus Maiden Pink will reward you by self sowing.
Sow outdoors during the colder months- September through February, or start indoors. They germinate easily.
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Full sun to part sun
Mature height: 8 inches
Mature width: 18-22 inches
Hardiness zones: 3-10
