How to Grow Dianthus

The name dianthus comes from the Greek words for "flowers of the gods" which gives a hint of how appreciated this huge genus has been by gardeners through the ages. Easy to grow and drought tolerant, dianthus (Dianthus spp.), often called pinks, can be annuals, perennials or biennials. They thrive in rock gardens and sunny borders or sprout from cracks in brick walls, offering bright, pretty blossoms above gray-green foliage. Planted appropriately, in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, they require very little effort to grow.

Pert and often pink, dianthus flowers rise a few inches or a few feet above the tight mats or mounds of leaves they form. The blossom petals' ruffled edges make them look as if a child cut them out with pinking shears. The species have been mixed by nature and cultivators alive, and myriad hybrids and cultivars exist, each offering a charm of its own. A broad palette of hues is available in commerce, including solid reds, whites, blues and pinks, but also in mixed colors, some edged in a paler shade, some with "eyes" or streaks of contrasting shades. These plants flower generously from early spring through summer.

Many annual species reseed themselves merrily in the garden, so don't be surprised to see them reappear year after year, just like the perennials.

Spade or shovel

Organic compost

Organic mulch

Pruners

Denatured alcohol

Select a site for your dianthus with slightly alkaline, well-draining soil and direct sunlight. The plants accept and grow in partial shade, but the blooms are more generous and vivid with 6 or more hours of direct sun per day. Before planting, work the soil with a spade or shovel to 12 inches, then mix in 2 inches of organic compost.

Space dianthus between 6 and 12 inches apart. The distance depends on whether the plant is a dwarf species or one of the taller, mat forming species.

Water the dianthus plants on a regular basis throughout the summer season. They need about 1 inch of water per week, whether from rain or irrigation.

Layer several inches of organic compost on the soil around the dianthus plants in the spring. This is the only fertilizer required. Top this with 2 inches of organic mulch, keeping it well away from plant foliage. Mulch again just before the first freeze of winter.

Sterilize your pruners with a solution of half water, half denatured alcohol and clip off flower heads as they wilt. Deadheading encourages new blossoms to form. Shearing down mound-forming foliage after the plant flowers also encourages new flowers.

Despite the hundreds of species of dianthus that exist in the world, only a handful are practical and available for gardeners. Here are a few to try:

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)is a biennial dianthus that thrives in USDA zones 3 through 9.  The plant grows fast and usually has a delightful odor.

Eastern Star (Dianthus x hybrida "Eastern Star") is a stunning dianthus with ruby petals and a dark center that grows to 12 inches high in USDA zones 3 through 9.

"Sweetness" (Dianthus plumarius "Sweetness") grows low and tufty, and is a great cottage garden flower in USDA zones 4 through 9.