Dianthus

RHS Genus Guide

This diverse group of much-loved flowers ranges from diminutive alpines tumbling over walls or forming neat clumps in the rockery, to iconic, long-stemmed carnations loved for bouquets and buttonholes. With scented pinks a cottage garden favourite, and sweet williams covered in blooms for bedding and containers, there is a Dianthus to suit both traditional and contemporary gardens.

Botanical name: Dianthus

Common name: pinks, carnations, sweet williams

RHS Growing Guide

Growing guide

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How to grow dianthus

Introducing Dianthus

pink 'Gran's Favourite'

Dianthus 'Gran's Favourite' (p)

pink 'Gran's Favourite'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

border carnation 'Flanders'

Dianthus 'Flanders' (b)

border carnation 'Flanders'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

maiden pink

Dianthus deltoides

maiden pink

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

perpetual-flowering carnation [Viana]

Dianthus [Viana] ('Kovian') (pf)

perpetual-flowering carnation [Viana]

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

pink 'Devon Flavia'

Dianthus 'Devon Flavia' (Scent First Series) (p)

pink 'Devon Flavia'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

German pink

Dianthus carthusianorum

German pink

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sweet william

Dianthus barbatus

sweet william

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Chinese pink

Dianthus chinensis (p,a)

Chinese pink

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres