DIANTHUS ARMERIA

Description

Cute, compact rosettes, with a small footprint, bear longish stems holding multiple heads of attractively-speckled, deep pink flowers. Unlike most pinks, it will happily self-seed around the garden and will not crowd out other plants as some self-seeders do. It is native to most of Europe, from Portugal north to southern Scotland and southern Finland, and east to Ukraine and the Caucasus. Today, populations have been introduced to, and have become naturalised in New Zealand and much of North America.

Sowing Advice

For best results, sow immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. We sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination, as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, often waiting for natural spring germination, hence giving them a full season of growth.

Key Facts