Dianthus deltoides , commonly known as maiden pink, is a flowering plant in the Caryophyllaceae or carnation family. The species, deltoides, means the Greek letter delta (Ξ), possibly referring to the narrowly triangular leaves. Maiden Pink is native to Europe and western Asia but has since been introduced to the United States where it can be found in the upper midwest of the United States and all of Canada. It is an herbaceous perennial that blooms from May to July, preferring well-drained soils in full sun. This plant provides excellent groundcover for landscapes as it produces many blooms in shades of red, pink, lavender or white with a darker star-like ring near the center. Problems: Leaf spot can infect plants in humid summers, where plants are crowded. Crown rot can be a problem when planted in wet, poorly drained soils. Good drainage is essential to avoid disease and die out in the center. Division is recommended every 2-3 years for healthy plants and to avoid overcrowding.
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 sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding; Spreading
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Acicular; Lanceolate; Linear; Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Waxy
Leaf size
< 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Hairy, loosely tufted prostrate shoots with short narrow leaves that are often gray with a waxy feel
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
These flowers are 5-petaled, bright pink, reddish-purple to lavender or sometimes white. They are long-stalked with broad petals notched at the petal tip and with a dark ring near the center.