Dianthus
A fragrant, free-flowering cottage-garden staple - plant in a sunny, well-drained spot either in autumn or spring, avoiding the deepest winter cold and the hottest stretch of summer. Space seedlings 25cm apart and deadhead regularly to keep flowers coming. Rust shows as red-brown pustules on the leaves; thrips cause a mottled, silvery look on foliage and petals.
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- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 25cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 30cm
- Flowering season
- Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Attracts wildlife
- Bees, Butterflies
- Common diseases
- Rust
- Common pests
- Thrips, Caterpillars
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-April and September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentAutumn or spring
- Choose a sunny spot with fertile, free-draining soil; heavy wet ground is the main cause of early losses
- Plant in the morning or evening rather than the heat of the day so new seedlings aren't stressed straight away
- Space plants 25cm apart
Vegetative growth
- Feed in spring and again in midsummer to keep growth steady
- Check for thrips, which leave a mottled, silvery look on leaves and can cause buds to drop before opening
FloweringMostly spring through summer
- Deadhead spent blooms regularly to extend the flowering season
- Rust appears as red-brown pustules on leaves and can stunt plants if left unchecked; remove affected foliage and improve airflow
- Caterpillars can chew holes in both leaves and buds
Maintenance
- Many dianthus are short-lived perennials; divide or replace clumps every few years as flowering tapers off
- Trim lightly after the main flush to tidy growth and encourage a second flowering