Dianthus

What does Dianthus look like?

Dianthus includes about 340 species, most with slender, blue-green leaves and five-petalled flowers. The petals often have a jagged or fringed edge, giving them a delicate look. While pink is the most common colour, blooms can also be white, red, or yellow, sometimes with contrasting centres. Many types have a strong, spicy fragrance. Plants vary from low, mat-forming perennials to taller, upright stems, and some have woody bases.

Where does Dianthus come from?

Most Dianthus species grow wild in Europe and Asia, with a few native to northern and southern Africa and one found in arctic North America. Some, like Dianthus armeria and Dianthus deltoides, have been introduced to North America. The name 'Dianthus' comes from Greek, meaning 'flower of Zeus', and was first used by the ancient botanist Theophrastus. Over time, these flowers have been bred and spread widely for gardens and floristry.

When and how Dianthus blooms

Dianthus plants are mainly perennials, though some are annuals or biennials. They bloom in a range of seasons, depending on the variety. Gardeners have bred many types for different uses: border carnations for outdoor beds, perpetual carnations for year-round flowers in greenhouses, and alpine pinks for rock gardens. Most are grown from seed or cuttings and thrive in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight.

How Dianthus is used

People grow Dianthus for garden borders, rockeries, and as cut flowers for arrangements. Some varieties are chosen for their scent, especially those with a clove-like aroma. In Somerset, the Cheddar pink is a local emblem, while in Japan, certain types are symbols for cities and cultural ideals. The flowers are also important to some moth and butterfly larvae.

Kinds of Dianthus

Notable types include border carnations, perpetual flowering carnations, Malmaison carnations, old-fashioned pinks, modern pinks, and alpine pinks. Each group has its own growth habit, flower size, and blooming period. Some, like D. knappii, stand out for unusual colours, such as yellow with a purple centre. Many cultivars have won awards for their garden performance.

What Dianthus means

Dianthus has a place in the language of flowers, where pink varieties stand for boldness. The Cheddar pink represents Somerset in England, and Dianthus japonicus is the official flower of Hiratsuka in Japan. In Japanese culture, Dianthus superbus is linked to the idea of the ideal woman. The genus is also important in horticulture, with many varieties recognised for their beauty and scent.

Where Dianthus is used and seen

Flower powerA 1960s protest style using flowers as symbols of peace and resistanceKeukenhofA vast Dutch flower garden famous for its spring tulip displaysCorsageA small bouquet worn on the dress or wrist for formal eventsBoutonnièreA single flower worn on a suit or tuxedo lapel for formal occasionsCut flowersFresh flowers and buds trimmed for decoration and displayFlower gardenA garden space planted and arranged for flowering plants and seasonal bloomsLeiA garland or necklace of flowers, leaves, or shells given to honor or celebrateMother's DayA day to honor mothers and motherhood around the world

Traditions that use it

Questions people ask about Dianthus

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Dianthus on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data