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. Dianthus bear carnation-like flowers that have toothed petals. These colorful flowers occur in singles, semi-doubles and doubles. Each flower has a delicate fringe or white along the edge. 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 'Telstar Series'

Pronunciation: dye-ANTH-us

Common name(s): Telstar Dianthus, Telstar 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

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

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 cultivar series include 'Carpet', 'Charms', 'Parfait', 'Princess', and 'Rosemarre'.

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.