Dianthus Candy Floss ('Devon Flavia’)
Words: Graham Rice
In recent years we have seen a continuous stream of fine new garden pinks appearing in garden centres and nurseries. With their long flowering season, prolific blooms and often powerful perfume, they are increasingly valued in cottage gardens, mixed borders and as container plants.
One of the best these, Dianthus Candy Floss ('Devon Flavia’) from the Scent First series, was given an Award of Garden Merit (AGM) after last year’s Wisley trial - and not only for its fragrance.
A perfect pink
The fully double flowers are palest pink with a richer pink zone towards the heart of the flower and as the flowers mature the edges of the petals also develop darker tones. Each petal is neatly toothed creating a very striking look. And that clove fragrance is simply intoxicating. “The flowers are an outstanding colour, and the plants are very floriferous with good strong stems and a neat habit,” the Wisley judges reported.
Yet one of the most valuable features of Candy Floss is that the plants are day neutral. This means that, unlike most other pinks, plants do not require a specific number of daylight hours to flower; Candy Floss will flower at any time the weather is warm enough so it enjoys a long flowering season.
In your garden . . .
Candy Floss also has unusually grey leaves which set off the flowers beautifully. The plants are vigorous, reaching about 37cm/14.5in in height, so are neat enough for containers but the stems are long enough to cut for the house.
In the garden Candy Floss is ideal in patio containers where the fragrance, colour and flower form can all be appreciated at close quarters. In sunny mixed borders try grouping it with purple sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’), the tiny chartreuse flowers of Alchemilla mollis or in front of silvery artemisias.