Dianthus

Elegant, fragrant, and tough through cool weather—Dianthus adds crisp, lacy blooms and a light clove scent from fall through late spring in Middle Georgia. Neat mounds of blue-green foliage are topped with fringed flowers in pinks, reds, whites, and bicolors that hold color in chilly spells and bounce back after rain. Use flats for economical, uniform mass plantings along borders and walkways; choose 4" pots for fuller plants that establish fast and give instant impact in porch planters, window boxes, and entry accents.

Habit & size

• Bedding types: compact 6–10" tall, 8–12" wide

• Garden types: 10–16"+ tall with more branching for mid-border presence

Light: Full sun to part sun (morning sun + light afternoon shade is ideal in the South)
Soil: Well-drained, lightly alkaline to neutral; amend with compost for best performance
Water: Keep evenly moist but never soggy—dianthus dislike “wet feet”
Feeding: Mix slow-release fertilizer at planting; boost lightly every 3–4 weeks for continuous bloom
Spacing: 8–10" for bedding types; 10–12" for taller selections
Maintenance: Remove spent blooms to encourage new flushes; a quick shear in late winter sparks a strong spring finish

Design tips

• Edge beds with bedding dianthus and back them with pansies/violas; or place taller dianthus mid-bed with snapdragons for vertical contrast.

• Excellent mixer in containers with dusty miller, alyssum, ivy, and ornamental cabbage & kale.

• Repeat 2–3 coordinating colors in drifts for a polished, landscape-ready look.

Grown locally by Ware Greenhouses and available in flats and 4" pots, Dianthus delivers long-lasting, fragrant color and tidy texture right when the garden needs it most.