Reviewed By ROY NICOL
Roy is a Professional Gardener and Horticultural Consultant, specialising in large garden year-round maintenance and garden development. He is an RHS Master of Horticulture and uses his research in the application of no-dig methods in ornamental garden settings. Roy has been a Professional Gardener for more than six years and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, Professional Gardener's Guild and Association of Professional Landscapers (Professional Gardener).
IN THIS GUIDE
- 1) D. ‘Leon Tautz’
- 2) D. ‘Jean Knight’
- 3) D. ‘Chesswood Margaret Alison’
- 4) D. ‘Mambo’
- 5) D. ‘Pixie Star’
- 6) D. ‘Dainty Dame’
- 7) D. ‘Pinball Wizard’
- 8) D. ‘Rhian’s Choice’
- 9) D. ‘Auricula-Eyed Mixed’
- 10) D. ‘Sooty’
- 11) D. ‘Maiden Pink’
- 12) D. ‘Clove’
- 13) D. ‘Rockin Red’
- 14) D. ‘Rose De Mai’
- 15) D. ‘Pink Kisses’
- 16) D. ‘Georgia Peach Pie’
- 17) D. ‘Oscar Pink’
- 18) D. ‘Kawaranadesiko’
- References
Dianthus comprise an assortment of thousands of varieties – of which 114 have been awarded the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit.1See RHS lists of top AGM garden-worthy plants, fruit & veg. (n.d.-b). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/award-of-garden-merit/agm-lists
Underneath we present a mere taste of what this wonderful genus has in store for gardeners.
All the carnation and garden pink varieties exhibit the classic greyish-bluish-green foliage that is such a well-known attribute of these two species’ varieties.
All the carnation and garden pink varieties are evergreen perennials while the two Sweet William varieties are biennials.
1) D. ‘Leon Tautz’
A tall border carnation that can reach 75cm. It has a bushy habit.
It flowers only during part of the summer but no matter how brief the flowering season may be, the brilliant and stunning bloom, up to 6cm in diameter, makes up for it.
It has a pure white ground with vivid purplish-crimson flecks, splashes and edging.
2) D. ‘Jean Knight’
Also a border carnation, this variety grows up to 50cm.
It has a bushy habit and blooms during the summer.
The flower is 7-8cm wide, and is one for the manor garden, being pure white with purplish-crimson edging that bleeds over into flecks and streaks.
RHS Award of Garden Merit.
3) D. ‘Chesswood Margaret Alison’
Another tallish border Carnation that blooms during summer.
Its foliage has a very bluish tone. The double flowers are large at about 7cm and are a remarkable cerise rose pink, call it ‘Slate Rose.’
It possesses a feature that Dianthus are famed for: a spicy fragrance.
The flowers have a strong clove-like scent.
RHS Award of Garden Merit.
4) D. ‘Mambo’
A perpetually flowering variety that is grown year-round under glass for floriculture and exhibition.
This bushy variety attains a height and spread of over 1m.
The large, fully double flowers are in gorgeous tones of orangeish-yellow with the colouration being gently gradated.
RHS Award of Garden Merit.
5) D. ‘Pixie Star’
A dwarf variety at only about 20cm with a similar spread.
The foliage has an obvious bluish tinge.
The blooming season starts from mid-spring and continues into summer.
The small single flowers are most charming; they are candy pink with a lipstick red central ring.
RHS Award of Garden Merit.
6) D. ‘Dainty Dame’
Another dwarf variety at only about 25cm with a similar spread.
The small single flowers are pure white with a very contrasty maroon central ring.
These upbeat flowers have a suitably strong scent that carries a hint of spice.
RHS Award of Garden Merit.
7) D. ‘Pinball Wizard’
A mid-height variety that reaches around 40cm. It has a bushy habit.
Blooming during the summer, its double flowers are of the palest pink with flecking and feathering of a vivid pink.
These comparatively refined and elegant Pinks have a mildly spicy scent.
8) D. ‘Rhian’s Choice’
This variety grows to about 30cm and has a bushy habit.
Even by Dianthus standards, this variety’s foliage is markedly bluish-grey.
The double flowers are 5-5.5cm in width, and bloom during summer.
They are truly eye-pulling stunners by virtue of their striking hue which varies from intense red to blood red.
9) D. ‘Auricula-Eyed Mixed’
Grows to about 45cm and has an upright habit.
This Dianthus’s foliage is neither greyish nor bluish but is very green.
It bears merry clusters of bright pink, magenta, and purplish flowers with white or pale eyes.
These blooms are quite fragrant and bloom from late spring through summer.
10) D. ‘Sooty’
Grows to about 45cm and has a bushy, mounding form. It has intensely green foliage.
It bears clusters of small flowers during the summer, and they are seriously (yes, again) stunning.
The hue varies from maroon-black to violet-black, and the intense effect is heightened by a velvety sheen.
11) D. ‘Maiden Pink’
12) D. ‘Clove’
13) D. ‘Rockin Red’
14) D. ‘Rose De Mai’
15) D. ‘Pink Kisses’
16) D. ‘Georgia Peach Pie’
17) D. ‘Oscar Pink’
18) D. ‘Kawaranadesiko’
We hope you enjoyed this list of our favourite dianthus.
If you didn’t find a variety that piqued your interest then keep looking – there are literally thousands to choose from!
