Melinda Myers

Cheddar Pinks

Botanical Name

Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Min Zone

3

Max Zone

9

Height

6 to 12 inches

Width

1 to 2 feet

Flowers

Late spring to early summer: various shades of pink, red and white bicolor; fragrant

Light

Full sun

Soil

Well-drained

Planting & Care

• Well suited to southeastern U.S. gardens
• Deadhead (shear) spent flowers for additional flowering
• Dense spreading mat of attractive blue-grey foliage
• Will not survive in wet winter soils

Problems

Crown rot in poorly draining soils

Varieties

• Bath's Pink - pink, better selection for southern gardens
• Petite - dwarf, 3 to 4 inches tall, pink flowers
• Oakington - double pink flowers
• La Bourboule - deeply fringed petals, fragrant
• Tiny Rubies - double dark pink flowers, 4 inches tall