Use: These plants have very fragrant flowers held above the foliage. The deep cut petals give the plant a light airy appearance. These flowers work quite well when planted in small groups at the front of the border. Larger groups of dianthus look nice and are quite fragrant, but it is easy for grass to creep in unnoticed in larger plantings.
Culture: Dianthus need a well-drained winter soil and will not grow well in acid soil. Remove spent flowers by breaking off stems at nodes where new growth is starting. After several years, the plants decline and produce fewer flowers and will need to be replaced. This will probably not be a problem because this plant readily self-sows.
