Dianthus Germination Information
Dianthus is the botanical name for Carnation and Pinks
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