More Information
| Botanical Name |
Dianthus armeria |
| Seeds Per Pack |
25 |
| Life Cycle |
Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate |
6 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate |
21 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds |
Just Cover; barely cover with soil |
| When to Sow |
Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost, Outdoors after all danger of spring frost is past |
| Growing Height |
12-18 in. (30-45 cm) |
| Plant Spacing |
12-15 in. (30-38 cm) |
| Hardiness |
N/A |
| Sun Exposure |
Full Sun |
| Danger |
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested |
| Bloom Color |
Pink, Rose/Mauve |
| Bloom Time |
Late Spring/Early Summer, Late Summer/Early Fall, Mid-Fall, Mid-Summer |
| Foliage |
Herbaceous |
| Other Details |
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater, Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping |
| Soil pH Requirements |
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Propagation Methods |
From seed; direct sow after last frost, From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall, From seed; sow indoors before last frost, From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse |
| Seed Collecting |
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds |
This European native is closely related to the old-fashioned garden plant sweet William. Its common name, Deptford pink, was the result of a misidentification by botanist Thomas Johnson who found and described a similar maiden pink in Deptford in 1633. Classified as vulnerable and protected in its natural habitat in Britain, but it thrives throughout the rest of Europe and North America.