Maiden Pink Brilliancy Seeds - Dianthus deltoïdes

Dianthus deltoides 'Brilliancy' forms a small, evergreen mound covered with abundant blooms from May to August. The tiny single flowers look like shiny jewels with their bright, scarlet red, fringed petals. This fast-growing perennial combines sturdiness and frugality whilst producing masses of flowers. It is resistant to drought and tolerant of poor soil, making it ideal for growing in rock gardens and above low retaining walls. When sown early enough, it flowers in its first year. Grow in full sun, in well-drained soil.

Dianthus 'Brilliancy' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is selected from Dianthus chinensis (China Pink) and D. deltoides (Maiden Pink), a species native to Europe and temperate Asia that grows on dry slopes, moorlands, forest margins and poor, stony meadows. This fast-growing, short-lived perennial reaches a mature height of about 15 cm (in full bloom) for a spread of 20 cm or more. It forms a small, spreading mound of linear, bright green evergreen leaves, tightly gathered on slender stems. Flowering starts in June and lasts until September-October if the soil is not too dry. It features 2 cm wide, scarlet red flowers with fringed petals, similar to China Pinks, surrounding a bright red eye. They are lightly scented.

Dianthus deltoides are perfect for stony slopes or rock gardens where they happily spread out in the sunlight. They look very pretty over dry-stone walls and are useful for underplanting shrubs, in large pots, containers or troughs. Amend heavy or clay-based soils with gravel and coarse sand to improve drainage. Dianthus deltoides goes very well with alpine plants such as alyssums, saponaria, Phlox subulata or Phlox douglasii, rock cress, candytuft and helianthemums.