Paint the Town Fancy Pinks Dianthus

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

6-8 Inches

Mature Spread

16-18 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Grown for their lovely color and low growing foliage, Dianthus have been a mainstay of gardens for decades, gracing cottage gardens and borders with their spicy fragrance and warm colors. Paint The Town Fancy Pinks Dianthus hybrid brings all of the old fashioned appeal and adds a new deeper fuchsia pink color with a darker magenta ring in the center and unique blue green strappy foliage. They are the perfect addition to your butterfly or pollinator garden as the bees and butterflies love them. They are also the earliest dianthus to bloom each spring which makes them great for anxious gardeners who await spring’s arrival with eager anticipation every year.

Native to Europe and Asia, Zones 4-9, dianthus grow in open sunny meadows and prairies. They are low growing, mat-forming perennials that are grown in every region but the most extreme in the United States and can be found in gardens across the country. Prized for their spicy clove-like scent, dianthus are a valuable addition to any garden bed. Although widely used, they are never boring and Paint The Town Fancy is no exception with its deep coloration and frilly, pinked petal edges.

Paint the Town Fancy Pinks Dianthus Care

Demanding a well drained moderate quality soil and full sun with some dappled light shade, dianthus will tolerate a wide range of conditions beyond this. Water needs are average, so plan on watering when rainfall is inadequate, although they can tolerate some drought. They continue to bloom throughout the heat of summer, especially if they get some afternoon shade in the hottest regions. They require little fertilization as long as the soil nutrients are adequate. A light application of well composted organic materials may be all that is needed to meet their needs. Coastal gardeners will enjoy their salt tolerance and they thrive in a slightly acidic to neutral soil, average pH needs are 5.8 to 6.2.

Deadhead or trim spent flowers in the summer and you will get a rebloom in the fall. The lovely blue green foliage will please you in the meantime and provide valuable ground cover to keep weeds at bay. Deer and rabbits typically won’t browse on them. All parts of the plant are toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Paint the Town Fancy Pinks Dianthus Spacing

Space plants about 16 to 18 inches apart as these are low growing but spreading plants. They only grow to 8 inches in height, but spread out about 18 inches. Good air circulation is crucial to help prevent powdery mildew from setting up. Treat affected plants with a fungicide from your hardware store. Dianthus make fragrant and petite cut flowers so don’t be afraid to harvest a few stems to bring the beauty indoors. Great for massing out in your landscape or bordering your sidewalk, or include them in your patio containers, you will appreciate everything that Paint The Town Fancy Pinks brings to your spring and summer garden this year.