Dianthus 'Neon Star' PP14549 CPBR2751 |
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Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
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| | Series Name: Whetman® Star Series
Common Name: Pinks |
Incredibly vibrant pink flowers cover the evergreen, glaucous blue-grey foliage. The habit is compact and mounding to a height of about 7" tall and wide. Even more wonderful, the flowers exude the spicy scent of cloves. Though budding is most prolific in early summer, plants often rebloom in the fall.
The Dianthus 'Star' series is a Plant Haven introduction from breeder John Whetman of HR Whetman and Son in Devon, England. Though they are described as alpine dianthus, they are actually more complex and are an improvement over the species.
Breeder: John Whetman
Introducer: Plant Haven
Origin: Not Native to North America
Characteristics:
Height:
7 Inches
Spread:
7 Inches
Flower Color:
Pink shades
Purple-red shades
Foliage Color:
Silver/grey shades
Sun or Shade?:
Full sun (> 6 hrs. direct sun)
Part shade (4-6 hrs. direct sun)
Wet or dry?:
Low water needs
Average water needs
Want to see wings?:
Attracts butterflies
Need critter resistant plants?:
Deer resistant
How fast should it grow?:
Medium
When should it bloom?:
Early summer
Early fall
Looking for seasonal interest?:
Evergreen (in some or all zones)
How's your soil?:
Average Soil
Sweet or Sour Soil?:
Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)
What's your garden style?:
Container/Patio
Rock Garden
Eclectic
Dianthus grow best in loose, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soils. Lime can be added to the soil if it is naturally acidic to raise the pH. Dianthus can be grown in full sun or part shade, but the foliage will not be as lush and fewer flowers will be produced if it is grown in hot, dry areas. Regular watering during prolonged dry spells will be necessary. However, they are tolerant of short periods of dryness.
Do a thorough clean-up in the fall to prevent pest and disease problems, and add a layer of mulch to protect the evergreen foliage. As soon as the weather begins to warm up, remove all of this mulch to prevent crown rot.
What came first--the color or the flower? The color we call "pink" was actually named after "Pinks," the common name of Dianthus.