Dianthus cruentus
blood pink
Overview
Dianthus cruentus is a clump-forming perennial in the pink family, forming a low tuft of narrow, grass-like grey-green leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long. From this base, slender, wiry stems rise 16-24 inches (40-60 cm), branching near the top into tight, flat-headed clusters of small flowers. Each flower is about 1/2 inch (1 cm) across and deep crimson to blood-red, with 15-30 packed into a cluster 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) wide. Flowering runs through early to midsummer, and the upright stems carry the color well above surrounding low plants. Unlike many garden pinks, the flowers carry little or no scent. The foliage stays low and evergreen to semi-evergreen in mild winters, while the flower stems die back after seeding. The plant grows from a compact crown and is short-lived, often persisting three to four years, but it self-sows where soil is open and sharp-draining. One limitation is that it resents wet, heavy soil, where the crown rots over winter, so it persists for more years in lean, gritty ground in full sun.
Native Range
Dianthus cruentus is native to the Balkan Peninsula and the eastern Mediterranean, including Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey. It grows in dry meadows, rocky grassland, and open scrub on lean, well-drained soils.Suggested Uses
Used in gravel gardens, rock gardens, dry sunny borders, and naturalistic meadow plantings. The tall, slender stems and deep red flower heads combine with grasses and other drought-tolerant perennials. Suitable for cutting, with stems used fresh in arrangements.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'4" - 2'
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowering runs through early to midsummer, mainly June and July, over about 4-6 weeks. Tight clusters of blood-red flowers are held on tall, slender stems above the low foliage. Removing spent stems can encourage a smaller second flush in late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Deep crimson to blood-redFoliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Dianthus cruentus in full sun in lean, gritty, sharply drained soil; it tolerates poor and alkaline ground and declines with rich feeding. Wet, heavy soils cause the crown to rot over winter, so added grit improves survival on clay. Water sparingly once established, as the plant is drought-tolerant. A neutral to alkaline pH of 6.5 to 7.5 suits it. Spent flower stems can be cut back to tidy the clump and limit self-seeding. Because the plant is short-lived, self-sown seedlings or summer cuttings maintain a supply over time.Pruning
Cut spent flower stems back to the basal foliage after bloom to tidy the plant and reduce self-seeding. Leave some seed heads if seedlings are wanted, as the plant is short-lived. Trim the grassy foliage lightly in spring to remove winter-damaged leaves.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons