Dianthus

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Description

A welcome sight in the garden come spring, dianthus are admired for their spicy clove-scented flowers and cottage-style appeal. This low-maintenance plant blooms in nearly every color, from white to almost black. Plants come in a range of shapes and sizes, from low, mat-forming groundcovers to upright varieties 3 feet tall. Their uses in the garden are nearly endless, from border displays and rockeries, to containers and cutting gardens. Dianthus plants attract butterflies and hummingbirds, as well as pollinating insects.

Height/Spread:

4 to 36 inches tall, 4 to 24 inches wide

Exposure:

Dianthus bloom best with at least six hours of full sun, but can tolerate partial shade.

Bloom time:

Spring to early summer; some re-bloom intermittently or continuously through summer and fall.

Color and characteristics:

Flowers are single, semi-double or double with frilly petals. They come in nearly every color with the exception of blue, as well as patterned bicolors. Foliage is strappy and grass-like, occurring in shades of green, blue-green or silver-green.