1 Fragrant frontliners 'Bath's Pink' Cheddar pinks grows 9 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide, making it ideal for edging garden beds and adding a splash of pink to sunny beds and borders.
The name dianthus translates to "divine flower," and for good reason. Gardeners love this classic beauty for its intricate, fringed blooms but also for its sweet and spicy fragrance, reminiscent of cloves.
Flowers come in almost every color—from pale pinks, whites and lavenders to bold red, orange and striking bicolors. Grasslike green, blue-green or silvery leaves provide a striking backdrop to the unique, jagged-edged flowers, and look great even when plants aren't in bloom.
Additionally, the nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators, all while remaining unappealing to deer.
VERSATILE IN EVERY WAY Dianthus fits into a variety of garden settings. You can plant it in borders, as we've done at the front of the bed in our test garden at left, use it as a colorful ground cover or tuck it into containers. Plants bloom best in the cooler temperatures of spring, tapering off as summer's heat intensifies and often picking up again in fall. However, many newer varieties offer extended bloom periods, especially with regular deadheading, bringing vibrant color to your garden from spring all the way through fall. Mounding and upright habits also make dianthus perfect for edging garden paths or filling in gaps between larger plants. Whether you're cultivating a formal garden or a more relaxed, cottage-style landscape, there's probably a dianthus that will suit your needs.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Backyard Tornado
\"HE WHO SEARCHES FOR SPRING WITH HIS KNEES IN THE MUD FINDS IT, IN ABUNDANCE.\" - ALDO LEOPOLD
Front-of-the-Border "Wow!" Power
When it comes to easy-care plants that bring a lot of punch to the border, 'Ivory Queen' Turkestan onion should be near the top of your shopping list.
GARDEN ESSENTIALS
MAKE GARDENING EASIER THIS YEAR
Elevate an Evergreen Hedge
Although an evergreen hedge looks suitable all year on its own, it's perfectly poised to become something even greater: a backdrop to a garden where flower after flower will unfurl with such drama, you just might find yourself stepping outside and offering your applause.
One Garden, Two Worlds
In this colorful and welcoming garden, sunny, flower-filled front borders transition to a shady backyard hideaway.
on edge
Four garden pros share their go-to edging techniques.
DIANTHUS
Add fragrance, vivid color and timeless charm with this reliable, cold-hardy perennial.
2025's Best New Plants!
Are you ready to start planning for next year's garden? A few new plants might be just what you need to bring those dreams to reality.
Solve Garden Problems With Ground Covers
Are you tired of coaxing turfgrass to grow in difficult spots? In her book Groundcover Revolution, Kathy Jentz says that ground covers can be the solution to these struggles.
The Romance of Spring
With the arrival of spring, emerging perennials fill the garden with soft texture, restoring life to the harsh, often barren landscape of winter.
