Dianthus chinensis var. heddewigii Gaiety single Mix

The 'Gaiety single Mix' China Pink is a mixture of single flowers from the Dianthus chinensis var. heddewigii species. Depending on the plants, the fringed petal flowers are solid or variegated, ranging from white, red, and the bicoloured version, to pink and lilac. Perennial, but frost-sensitive and short-lived, the China Pink is most often grown as an annual. Sown early in spring, under heated shelter, the plants bloom for long months in sunny borders and containers.

The 'Gaiety single Mix' China Pinks belong to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a selection derived from the D. chinensis var. heddewigii, native to a large part of China, where it grows in meadows and sandy dunes, at the edge of forests, but also along watercourses. The growth of this short-lived perennial China Pink is very rapid. The adult size of the 'Gaiety single Mix' selection does not exceed 30 cm in height when flowering, with a spread of about 20 cm. Each plant forms a small prostrate tuft with a spreading habit. Its tiny, linear leaves, ranging from jade green to bluish green, are crowded on slender stems. Flowering begins in June and continues until September-October if the soil is not too dry. The flowers are single, 3 cm wide, composed of heavily fringed petals, in a beautiful palette of pink, mauve, red, and white shades. Some are solid, others are bicoloured. They have a pleasant fragrance. This China Pink is hardy to -10/-12 °C.

Plant these 'Gaiety single Mix' China Pinks in an open location, on a slope, where they can spread in the sun. They look stunning in a rock garden, on the slope of a well-drained bank, or at the top of a dry stone wall. These plants can fill the base of bushes in large pots, decorate large containers or alpine troughs. Before planting, in heavy or clayey soils, add some shovelfuls of gravel and coarse sand to facilitate water drainage. The China Pink pairs well with alpine or montane plants such as alyssum, soapworts, creeping phlox (P.subulata and P.douglasii), aubrieta, iberis, and rockroses.