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Hybrid Pinks

Dianthus chinensis (dy-AN-thus chi-NEN-sis BY bar-BAY-tus)

Family: Caryophyllaceae Unknown Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Pinks can be grown as an annual or biennial. They bloom in spring and again in fall when the temperatures cool down. The 5 petaled flowers come in several colors, are often fragrant and bloom profusely. Deadheading helps to prolong the bloom time. Plant in full sun to part sun in average well-drained garden soils. They tolerate dry soil and are deer resistant. They can be mass planted in borders, in a rock garden or in containers. It is sometimes offered as a potted florist plant. Problems: Alternaria leaf spot, root rot, Fusarium wilt, may result from poor drainage; thrips, whitefly; resistant to Phytophthora.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 61 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft) Optimal soil pH Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Poisonous
Life cycle
Annual; Biennial
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 8 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Basal and stem leaves are gray-green and lanceolate.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; Variegated; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Head
Flower shape
Radial; Wheel
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Showy 1.5 inch 5 petaled blooms with crimped edges come in many colors and bi-colors.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Attract bees and butterflies.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Fragrance
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#showy flowers #poisonous #mounding #fall flowers #biennial #spring flowers #deer resistant #cool weather plant #dry soils tolerant #cottage garden #red flowers #well-drained soil #bicolor #clumping #neutral pH #white flowers #edging #purple flowers #pink flowers #small spaces #sandy soils tolerant #rock garden #border planting #clay soils tolerant #drought tolerant #fringed flowers #HS302 #butterfly friendly #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #full sun tolerant #bee friendly #container plant #partial shade tolerant #annual #patio #rabbit resistant #HS304
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Dry Soil; Rabbits
Particularly resistant to
Deer and rabbit resistant
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Leaves
Poison symptoms
No reports of ingestion. Skin irritation reported from contact with clove pinks; minor and lasts only a few minutes, and vomiting.
Toxic principle
Triterpenoid saponins
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison; parts: Leaves; contact dermatitis

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.