Scientific Name:
Dianthus gratianopolitanus
(incl. hybrid cvs.)
Pronunciation:
dye-AN-thus grat-ee-an-oh-pol-it-AH-nus
Common Name:
cheddar pink
Family Name:
Caryophyllaceae
Plant Type:
Ground cover, Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Forms a very dense, silverish mound or mat; swollen nodes; leaves opposite, linear, most 2-4cm long x 2-4mm wide, glaucous, bluish to greyish-green, margins entire and finely ciliate; cymes with a few flowers 2-3cm wide, petals bright pink, may appear torn on the tips, often with more central darker marking that forms a ring.
Habit:
Dense, Spreading
Form:
Creeping / Mat-like, Mounded
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Europe, Garden origin
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Attract butterflies, Container planting, Cut flower or foliage, Fragrance, Ground cover, Group or mass planting, Perennial border, Rock garden, Small garden/space, Summer interest
Additional Info:
Hybrids may involve D. gratianopolitanus, D. plumarius, and D. caryophyllus. Hybrid cultivars shown or on campus may include D. 'Feuerhexe' (Firewitch™; flowers magenta), and D. 'Wicked Witch' (flowers cherry red).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glaucous, Pubescent
Colour in Summer:
Bluish, Green, Silver / Grayish
Colour in Fall:
Bluish
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Decurrent
Margins:
Ciliate, Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers paired, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Purple, Pink, Magenta, Red
Flower Scent:
Spicy
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Additional Info:
Sporatic flowering in summer if deadheaded
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Green
Propagation:
Seed, Cuttings
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Crown rot, Rust, Slugs or snails (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- CLT Training
- HORT 1155
Location(s):
- (BUG) BUG garden
- (ONE) Overpass North side East : cv. Firewitch
- (PDW) PonD West : cvs. Firewitch, Wicked Witch