Dianthus 'Pink Kisses' (Garden Pink) – Hardy Perennial (Set of 3 or 6)

Dianthus 'Pink Kisses' is a compact garden pink carrying two-tone blooms in soft pink with deeper rose centres above neat mounds of blue-green foliage.

The flowers are soft pink with a deeper rose eye, carried in clusters, and they carry the sweet, clove-like scent this group is known for. Plants build into low, cushion-shaped mounds of narrow blue-green leaves that stay put through the colder months, so there is something to look at long after the last bloom. Flowering runs from spring to autumn, and cutting a few stems for a vase only encourages more.

Give it full sun and soil that drains freely, ideally neutral to slightly alkaline. It suits the front of a border, a rockery, path edging or a patio pot, needs very little water once established, and copes with wind and salt air, so an exposed or seaside garden is no trouble. Winter wet is the one thing it will not forgive, so work grit into heavy ground and keep mulch away from the crown.

Supplied as well-established plants in 10.5cm pots, grown peat-free at our Yorkshire nursery, ready to plant straight into the garden or a container. Deadhead through the season to keep the flowers coming, and give it a light trim once the main flush is over to keep the mound tidy.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Garden pink, dianthus
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: 20–30cm x 20–30cm
• Growth Habit: Compact, mound-forming
• Perfect For: Containers, window boxes, border edging and rockeries
• Foliage: Blue-green, evergreen to semi-evergreen
• Flowering Time: Spring to autumn
• Planting Position: Full sun, including dry and exposed or coastal sites. Happy in patio containers.
• Soil Type: Well-drained, neutral to alkaline. Add grit to heavy soil.
• Hardiness: Fully hardy in Britain and happy to stay outside all year, as long as the soil drains freely over winter.
• Maintenance: Low. Deadhead regularly and trim lightly after flowering.
• Seasonal Interest: Spring, Summer and Autumn
• Type: Hardy evergreen perennial