University of FloridaSolutions for Your Life

Download PDF
Publication #FPS174

 

Dianthus x 'Princess Series' Princess Dianthus, Princess Pinks1

Edward F. Gilman, Terry Delvalle2

Introduction

These low growing herbaceous plants are used in the landscape primarily for their beautiful and slightly fragrant flowers. The bushy plants have leaves that are thick, stiff, and linear. Pinks bear carnation-like flowers that have toothed petals. These colorful flowers occur in singles, semi-doubles and doubles. Flowers can be either one color or a variegated mix of two. They are best in Florida landscapes in the fall, winter and spring months. Further north, they are used during the spring, summer and fall seasons. There are lavender, pink, purple, red, salmon, and white colored species of Dianthus. The abundant flowers can be borne singly or in inflorescences, but all occur terminally.

General Information

Scientific name: Dianthus x 'Princess Series'
Pronunciation: dye-ANTH-us
Common name(s): Princess Dianthus, Princess Pinks
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Plant type: annual
USDA hardiness zones: all zones (Fig. 1)
Planting month for zone 7: Apr; May; Jun; Jul; Aug
Planting month for zone 8: Nov; Dec; Jan; Feb; Mar
Planting month for zone 9: Feb; Nov; Dec
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Nov; Dec
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: attracts butterflies; border; edging
Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range

Description

Height: .5 to 1 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Figure 1. 

Shaded area represents potential planting range.


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Plant habit: round
Plant density: dense
Growth rate: slow
Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: oblong
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: not applicable
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: not applicable
Fall characteristic: not applicable

Flower

Flower color: red; lavender; pink; purple; salmon; white
Flower characteristic: showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: not applicable
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; slightly alkaline; sand; loam; clay
Drought tolerance:
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 6 to 12 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: not applicable
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: very sensitive to one or more pests or diseases which can affect plant health or aesthetics

Use and Management

Dianthus species may be used in the landscape as a border or edge. They are lovely when placed in containers and can be used in flower arrangements. They make great bedding plants massed together.

Dianthus species require a full sun to partial shade location in the landscape. They prefer improved, well-drained soils of medium fertility and are adapted to temperate climates.

Other series include Carpet, Charms, Parfait, Rosemarre and Telstar.

Propagate these species by seed. Some may be propagated by cuttings.

Pests and Diseases

These plants are subject to attack from various insects and fungal diseases. Bacterial wilt, bacterial spot, Alternaria, Botrytis, Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, aphids, mites, and cutworms are problems for Dianthus species.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FPS174, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Revised June 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Terry Delvalle, extension agent, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.