Dianthus, Carnations and Pinks
Flowering Perennials

Carnations and Pinks are cottage garden favorites and a fabulous range of plants. They are tough and undemanding, often wonderfully fragrant and flower for months on end.

Carnations are taller plants with larger flowers that have more petals, whereas pinks are lower growing with smaller simpler flowers that go on flowering to an even greater degree. In this way carnations and pinks are similar to pansies and violas respectively.

Carnations grow to around 24inches high and wide and will need supporting sticks placed as they grow, pinks are about half the size. The group also contains Sweet Williams.

They can be readily propagated in summer by taking cuttings from non-flowering shoots. Alternatively some can be grown from seed, though the results are variable in color and quality of plants produced.