Dianthus deltoides
maiden pink
Overview
Dianthus deltoides is a low, mat-forming perennial in the pink family, spreading 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide while staying 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) high in leaf. The narrow, pointed leaves are dark green to grey-green and form loose, trailing mats that root where stems touch the soil. In summer, slender stems rise 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) carrying single flowers about 3/4 inch (2 cm) across. Each flower has five toothed petals in shades of cerise, deep pink, or red, usually marked with a darker ring or band toward the center and light speckling. Bloom runs from June into September, heaviest in early summer, with scattered flowers continuing if spent stems are removed. The flowers carry little scent. The plant grows from a branching crown and self-sows readily in open, gritty ground, naturalizing in lawns and gravel. The mat foliage is evergreen to semi-evergreen in mild winters. One limitation is that the center of an old mat can thin and die out, leaving a bare patch, so plants are often short-lived and renewed from seed or cuttings. Wet, heavy soil and crowding by taller plants also shorten its life.
Native Range
Dianthus deltoides is native across most of Europe and into western Asia, from Britain and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean and east to Siberia. It grows in dry grassland, heaths, open woodland clearings, and on sandy or rocky banks.Suggested Uses
Used in rock gardens, gravel gardens, wall crevices, and at the front of sunny borders, and for naturalizing in thin, free-draining lawns. The trailing mats spill over edges and between paving. It combines with other drought-tolerant alpines and perennials that share its dry, sunny conditions.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 8"
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from June into September, with the heaviest display in early to midsummer. Single flowers open in succession on slender branching stems above the foliage mat. Removing spent stems extends bloom into late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Cerise to red with a darker ringFoliage Description
Dark green to 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 deltoides in full sun in light, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil. The plant tolerates poor, sandy, and gritty ground and is drought-tolerant once established. Wet, heavy soil and winter damp cause the crown and mat center to rot. Water sparingly after establishment; rich feeding produces soft growth and is not needed. Shear the mats lightly after the main flush to tidy them and prompt rebloom. Because mats are short-lived and open out at the center, raising replacements from seed or cuttings maintains coverage.Pruning
Shear the mats back lightly after the first flush of bloom to remove spent stems and encourage fresh flowering. Cut away dead patches at the mat center and topdress with grit. Leave some seed heads in late summer if self-sown seedlings are wanted.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