Elegance Lavender F1 Eye Seeds - Dianthus

The Dianthus Elegance Lavender F1 is part of a new series of selected hybrid carnations known for their well-branched vegetation and their endless flowering in vibrant tones, gently fragrant. The flowers of this 'Lavender' variety have ruffled petals in different shades of pink ranging from true pink to lavender and mauve depending on the age of the flower. It is a generous and undemanding annual plant that withstands heat well and does not require staking. Sown early in spring, under a heated shelter, it will flower from July until September-October in sunny borders and containers.

The 'Elegance Lavender F1' carnation belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a recent cultivar, recently distinguished at Fleuroselect for its performance in the garden. It is derived, among others, from D. chinensis, an annual plant native to a large part of China. The growth of this short-lived perennial carnation is very rapid, so the plant germinates and flowers within a few months. Its adult size will reach approximately 45 - 50 cm (17.7 - 19.7 in) in height when in bloom (up to 60 cm (23.6 in) in fertile soil), with a spread of 30 cm (11.8 in) or more. This carnation forms a small, bushy, ramified tuft. Its long, narrow, pointed, linear leaves, bluish-green in color, are arranged in opposite pairs on slender but firm stems. The flowering begins in June and continues until September-October if the soil is not too dry. The plant is then continuously covered with beautiful double flowers, with strongly fringed petals, very pale at the edges. They are pleasantly fragrant, at the top of generally uniflorous stems.

Plant the Elegance Lavender F1 carnation in an open location, in the border of a bed or in a pot on the terrace or balcony, where it can thrive in the sun. Before planting, in heavy or clayey soils, add some gravel and coarse sand to facilitate water drainage. The Elegance Lavender F1 carnation pairs nicely with catmints, geraniums, perennial salvias, creeping baby's breath, or agastaches, for example. Its combination with small ornamental grasses (Stipa, Pennisetum, Carex) is also very successful.

The generic name Dianthus comes from the Greek 'dios' for 'Jupiter or divine' and 'anthos' for 'flower'. These dianthus, or 'divine flowers,' were named as such by Theophrastus, due to their sweet fragrance and beauty.