"Dianthus x allwoodii -      Allwood Pink and Dianthus plumarius - Cottage Pink"

Florist Home :: Flower Guides :: Dianthus x allwoodii - Allwood Pink and Dianthus plumarius - Cottage Pink

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8

Height: 24 in (60 cm)

Spread: 15 in (37 cm)

Type: herbaceous perennial

Flowers: Pink, red, salmon, white.

Growing Dianthus x allwoodii and       Dianthus plumarius

Comments: These low plants have nearly grass-like, grayish-green foliage. The flowers are usually double and are produced throughout the summer. The height will vary with the variety of plant. Pinks are easy to grow but do prefer a slightly alkaline soil and good drainage, especially in winter. An individual planting may only last 3 to 4 years before it needs to be replaced with new plants.

Propagation

A number of techniques including layering and cuttings are possible but the usual methods are seeds and division.

Cultivars

The cultivars listed below are variously listed as D. x allwoodii, D. plumarius or are not attributed to any group. The hybrid D. x allwoodii are the progeny of a cross between D. plumarius and a Perpetual Carnation seedling. The D. x allwoodii cultivars provide a longer blooming period and bushier plants as compared to D. plumarius.


'Alpinus' - These Allwood hybrids resulted from crossing D x allwoodii with the D. alpinus and other short species. The result was short, 6-inch (15 cm) plants producing blooms in the full range of normal dianthus flower colors .
'Aqua' - Double, fragrant white flowers .
'Berkshire Moon' - Double, white flowers.
'Danielle Marie' - One-foot (30 cm) tall plants produced dark salmon colored flowers during the entire growing season.
'Desmond' - Bright red, double flowers.
'Doris' - Semi-double, salmon pink flowers with a deeper pink eye.
'Essex Witch' - A dwarf only 5 inches (12 cm) tall. Pink flowers with fringed petals are produced in abundance.
'Frosty Fire' - Cherry red flowers are flecked with white.
'Helen' - Double, salmon pink flowers.
'Hoffman's Red' - Red flowers have darker centers.
'Inchmery' - Pale pink, fragrant flowers.
'Itsaul White' - Pure white flowers.
'Little Bobby' - Red flowers have dark eyes.
'Margaret Curtis' - White flowers have dark red centers.
'Pink' - Pink flowers and bluish foliage, 1 foot (30 cm) tall.
'Robespierre' - Pink flowers speckled with red, 1 foot (30 cm) tall.
'Sonata' - Improved form of 'Spring Beauty'.
'Spring Beauty' - Plants 16 inches (40 cm) tall produce double flowers in a range of pink, rose, salmon and white shades. Spicy fragrance.
'Velvet 'N Lace' - Dark maroon, fragrant, semi-double flowers have frilly petals and white edges.
'War Bonnet' - Maroon flowers, plant 12- to 18-inches (15 cm) tall.

References for Cultivars: Walters Gardens 1999, Wayside Gardens 1999, Ray Wiegand's Nursery 1999, Park Seed 1994, Weston Nurseries 1999, White Flower Farm 1999, Lake County Nursery 1997, Sheridan Nurseries 1999, Midwest Groundcovers 1999, Willoway Nurseries 1999.

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This information kindly supplied by Michigan State University Extension, Ornamental Plants.

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