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AR Gardener Magazine Articles
Dianthus barbatus
Whether you call them pinks, sweet William, or simply Dianthus,
plants in the Dianthus family have been in our gardens for years–they are
actually ancient plants. Whether you plant them as an annual, a biennial or a
perennial, these graceful plants can give you a long season of colorful flowers,
most with a sweet fragrance to boot.
Dianthus was named by Greek botanist, Theophrastus. He named
them Dianthus from the Greek dios, "divine" and anthos–"flower". The most common
members of the family include carnations, and the plant we commonly refer to as
Sweet Williams–Dianthus barbatus. There are numerous species of Dianthus, and
many do quite well in our gardens. Carnations are an exception, performing
poorly in hot, humid climates. In fact, many of our Dianthus plants do best in
the cooler days of spring and fall, often resting in the heat of summer.
While there are species sold as annuals, biennials and
perennials, many of them perform similarly, either freely reseeding, or coming
back from the root system. Most of our Dianthus come in shades of pink, white,
red and combinations there-in. If you think the common name ‘pinks’ is because
of the color, think again. This common name is usually credited for the edges of
the flowers, which appear to be cut by ‘pinking shears’.
Dianthus have been around for years, but there seems to be
renewed interest in them. While there are definitely similarities to all
Dianthus, there is a bit of difference between species. Dianthus barbatus, or
the Sweet Williams has a more upright growth habit, growing up to 18 inches in
height and bearing a mounded cluster of sweet smelling flowers. It often takes a
breather during the hottest summer months, but does great, spring and fall.
Dianthus deltoides–the maiden pink, forms a nice mat of grass like foliage, and
tends to stand up to the heat a little better. A light shearing after bloom,
will have it back in bloom in no time. The ‘Zing’ series has become popular in
the past few years, but ‘Red Maiden’ is another good choice.
Dianthus gratianopolitanus is another useful Dianthus. ‘Bath’s
Pink’ is an outstanding performer with dainty pink flowers on a gray-green clump
of foliage. If you deadhead, you can get almost continuous flowering out of this
one. And the annual Dianthus chinensis, often overwinters, and acts like a
perennial in Arkansas.
Regardless of which Dianthus variety you are growing, in
general, Dianthus prefer a well drained, slightly alkaline soil. Adding a little
lime into the planting area, can sweeten the soil. They do best in full sun to
partial shade. Even those considered a true perennial will not last forever in
the garden. But through re-seeding, division and replanting, they can be a
welcome addition to any landscape.
Dianthus plants can be grown from seed or plants. They are often sold in six
packs as bedding plants both spring and fall, usually along with cool season
bedding plants. They can also be found in the perennial section of your nursery.
Clumping several together in a massed effect can be a good combination with both
foliage and flowering perennials. The soft texture of the foliage, and the soft
gray color of some varieties can be a good combination with other plants, even
without the blooms.
This story first appeared in the
AR
Gardener Magazine.
By: Janet Carson
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