Kahori® Dianthus

Are you looking for a plant that will add class and vibrancy to your garden with minimal effort? Kahori® Dianthus, commonly known as a carnation, will brighten your garden with its radiant, pink-colored blooms, beautiful silvery-blue, evergreen foliage, and aromatic scent! The name Dianthus comes from the Greek words dios and anthos, meaning divine and flower, and the name Kahori comes from the Japanese word for fragrance. This flower certainly lives up to its name, blooming long and bright from May to July, and can blossom into early fall with proper pruning. 

Hardy in zones 4-8, Kahori® Dianthus will lure butterflies, hummingbirds, and a plethora of pollinators with its incredibly enticing scent. This herbaceous perennial is deer resistant, drought tolerant, cold tolerant, and marvelously low maintenance. You can easily cut flowers for indoor decoration. In addition, its tidy, compact form makes it perfect for borders and containers.

Kahori® Dianthus Care

Plant Kahori® Dianthus from early spring to late fall, in well-drained, average soil, in an area with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. The more sun, the better! It is incredibly adaptable to different soil types but prefers drier, slightly more alkaline soil. If you have acidic soil, you can raise the pH by mixing in lime, which you can find at most garden and hardware stores. Water lightly once a day for the first few weeks after being transplanted. Once established, soak the roots twice a week. If you plant it in soil with a high clay content, water it less, as this soil has higher water retention. Mix some fertilizer into the soil when planting for the first time, or fertilize once in the early spring and halfway through the growing season for established plants. Use a formula to encourage blooming, and add a layer of mulch or compost annually in the winter. 

As the season progresses, remove spent flowers by pinching them off or trimming where the base of the flower stem meets the main stem. This type of pruning is called deadheading and encourages new flower growth all season. Prune back foliage as needed to keep the desired shape. Leave the entire plant up for the winter, and prune back to 4 inches above the ground in early spring. Dig up and divide this perennial every three to four years to stimulate new, healthy growth and extend your garden.  

Kahori® Dianthus Spacing

With a mature height of 20 inches and a spread of 8-20 inches, take care to space your plants at least 12 inches apart in a grouping. If choosing to grow in a container, use a pot no smaller than 8 inches in diameter.