How to Grow Carnation and Pinks

Dianthus Germination Information

Dianthus is the botanical name for Carnation and Pinks
Dianthus Seed Germination How to Sow Dianthus:
  • For best results, sow indoors, covering the seeds with four times their thickness in soil
  • Maintain a temperature of 68-70° F during germination
  • Germinates in 7-14 days
  • Sow outdoors anytime in spring or summer, up to two months before first fall frost
  • When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed

How to Grow Dianthus:
Spacing:  Plant outdoors 6-12 inches apart in full sun in a light

Soil: Soil needs to be sandy, well-drained, and slightly alkaline. Feed with a balanced fertilizer in spring

Temperature: Dianthus is fairly drought tolerate, but prefers cool, damp climate

Additional Care: Deadhead the blooms and cut back the plants to encourage continued blooming

Appearance and Use:

Grown for their long-lasting blooms for cutting, Carnations and Pinks are at home in beds, borders, edging, rock gardens, and containers. Plants sport grass-like evergreen foliage and stiff, erect stems with 11/2- to 2- inch single or double blooms of red, pink, white, yellow, lavender, orange, and salmon, in solids or bicolors often filled with petals. Dianthus blooms throughout the summer


Caryophyllus (Carnation): 1-3 feet tall. A single bloom borne on each stem

Deltoides (Maiden Pink): A dense mat, 4-12 inches tall, thats makes a good ground cover. Blooms sport lacy petals and red centers

Superbus (Fringed Pink): 2-3 feet tall. Deeply fringed, fragrant rosy blooms. Best treated as an annual

About Dianthus:
Pronunciation:  di-an’-thus
Lifecycle:  Perennial
Origination: Caryophllaceae; native to Europe
Common Names: Carnation and Pinks