Dianthus Blood Carnation

Surprisingly tough, this show stopper doesn’t mind poor soils, is dry tolerant and loves the sun. The narrow stems of blue-green foliage sits primly below the deeply coloured flower heads. It is a drawcard by garden paths, in rock gardens, at the front of beds or borders or in a low lawn planting. My mind is alive with the possibilities of where I can squeeze a few more into my garden.

Dianthus grow best in moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil. Best in a sunny position. Water in well, then once established they become dry tolerant. Amenable across a huge temperature range, from -20 to the high 30’s. It is best to ensure they don’t get too wet over winter.

The regular cutting of the flowers promotes healthy growth and encourage more booms. You can add some fertiliser during the flowering season to encourage even more blooms. This is especially important if you are growing them in pots.

The botanical name Dianthus is from the Greek; Dios for god and anthos for flower: God’s Flower.