DIANTHUS.

Dianthus

Plants that one takes for granted in the Rock Garden, they wear their heart on their sleeves and just give and give, they are very easy to please and very easy from cuttings and seed. There are a few that do not grow readily and have to be pampered a little, so cuttings taken every now and then keeps them from disappearing in your garden. Dianthus echidiformis originally from Ken Gillanders in Tasmania is not the correct name, Fermi spoke to Tony Hall in the UK he said it was an invalid name for D. anatolicus, it has never flowered for me but I live in hope.

 I recently picked up some new cuttings of Dianthus from our Leongatha members on a cutting swop day we had as part of our Syllabus for 2014. Seed is a little more difficult as some plants hybridise in your garden, and not all plants come true to form and the seed from the exchanges seems to be very mixed up.

The Alpine Garden Society Encyclopaedia of Alpines volume A-K has a very good reference to Dianthus, also Border Pinks by Richard Bird has quite a lot of the hybrid plants with some photo's. But my favourite is a copy of The Dianthus by Will Ingwersen 1949, I'm sure with a bit of searching you may be able to pick up a copy some where.

My first photo is Dianthus 'Whatfield Wisp' from Ken Gillanders.

 Dianthus 'Bombadier' imported with a group of friends from New Zealand, a very strong grower once established.

Dianthus squarrosus from the Bunfight donated by Fermi and Will.

Dianthus specious? from Japanese seed, not a strong grower and I take cuttings regularly.

Dianthus callizonau ex Carpathians from SRG seed exchange 2014.

Dianthus freynii I think this is its correct name but not certain from Gentiana Nursery.

 Dianthus unknown but one of my favourites with fine blue-grey foliage and lilac pink flowers,

 about 12cm high.