All You Ever Wanted To Know About Pinks.
 (Read 20+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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Pinks is the general name for the huge collection of flowering annuals, biennials and perennials botanically known as Dianthus. With over 300 species and innumerable hybrids this group varies in size, shape, growing habit and growing requirements but they do have some similarities. Most Pinks have narrow, green leaves with a bluish or grayish tinge to them. The flowers, coming in single, semi-double and full double forms, typically have a spicy, clove-like scent and unlike what the name implies can be white, red, rose and even yellow and orange in addition to all shades of pink. Most bloom in spring to early summer with some reblooming later in the season and others continuously if deadheaded religiously. They all require regular watering, full sun and a soil that is light textured and fast-draining. Allowing them to sit in water shortens their life substantially.
These plants have been cottage garden favorites for as long as there have been cottage gardens. Most Dianthus grow close to the ground to form compact mats used for ground covers. This makes them wonderful for softening the harsh edging in flower beds, for planting on stone walls to cascade down and in rock gardens.
Cheddar Pinks, named for the tiny village in England from which it originated, is most popular for these applications as it grows only 4-6 inches high. The botanical name is Dianthus Gratianopolitanus which, as far as I can tell sounds like “grateful politician” and therefore that’s how I remember it when looking for them in garden centers. Cheddar pink is a short lived perennial with 1 inch long, slightly curling, stiff blue-gray leaves and tiny, very fragrant, single flowers in pale pink and rosy colors. The flowers stand slightly above the foliage and if deadheaded may bloom continuously after its first profuse bloom in mid-spring. Though a good choice for the hot, humid south, Cheddar pinks do just as well in cold northern climates.
The most popular and well known of Pinks, though not so much for the garden but as a florist favorite, is the perennial double flowering Carnation, Dianthus Caryophyllus. Usually commercially grown in greenhouses or outdoors in temperate areas, Carnations, typically growing 4 feet high with 3 inch wide flowers, come in many colors, the most popular being white so florists can easily paint them to match any decor, any bridal party color scheme or your prom dress. To grow these, great care is required but with careful staking and pinching back all but one bud per stem you too can have florist sized Carnations in your garden.
Used mostly as edging, Dianthus Plumarius, commonly known as Cottage pink, is a perennial from which many hybrids have been created. The leaves of this one are grayish-green and also form loose mats with the spicy-scented, slightly fringed blossoms 10-18 inches high. The flowers come in single and double form in rose, white and pink sometimes with dark outlines on the petals and darker centers.
Another perennial Dianthus Deltoides, Maiden Pink being its common name, grows easily from seed, is quite hardy, grows 8-12 inches high, is a bit more shade tolerant than other Dianthus and form loose mats of foliage perfect as ground covers on sloping banks. The flowers come in varying shades of rose, pink, white and purple some with contrasting centers. These bloom in summer and again in fall if deadheaded.
A self-sowing biennial in this plant family is the garden favorite Sweet William, Dianthus Barbatus. It grows upright 10-20 inches tall with flat, bright green, 1-3 inch long leaves growing all along the stems and the very fragrant and often bi-colored flowers appearing in close-packed clusters. Color combinations are virtually endless in every shade of pink, rose, purple, white and red. This one produces great numbers of seeds which are easily collected or if preferred can be allowed to sow on their own.
Most Dianthus grow easily from seeds but since they are often short lived, propagation of a favorite type can prevent you ever being with out it. Layering, dividing and rooting cuttings gotten from growing tips all work well to increase your Dianthus collection.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 visit http://www.helium.com/user/32782 for more amazing garden info, entertaining short stories and intriguing Novel excerpts.
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