Dianthus plumarius Devon Cream

Dianthus 'Devon Cream' is a recent variety of English pinks. It is remarkably floriferous, boasting an unusual and delightful pastel colour. From May to July, or even longer if the soil remains moist, this densely growing pink produces double flowers with finely laciniate petals on the edges. The flowers are a delightful mixture of pale creamy-yellow and ivory randomly infused with pink. They open abundantly, carried by sturdy stems, above a persistent cushion of beautiful grey-blue, which remains attractive even in winter. The flowers are distinguished by their pronounced spicy and sweet fragrance. A lovely little perennial, easy to grow in light soil. Plant in full sun. Its flowers are also superb in summer bouquets.

Dianthus 'Devon Cream' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a cultivar selected in England, resulting from the cross-breeding between D. plumarius and D. gratianopolitanus. D. plumarius is a European perennial that is the main ancestor of the various groups of pinks, both old-fashioned and modern. D. gratianopolitanus is native to Europe and Asia, and it has passed on to its descendants its compact habit and its wonderful clove fragrance. The growth rate of this pink is quite fast. Its adult size will not exceed 35 to 40cm (14 to 16in) in height with a spread of 30cm (12in), or even more. This pink forms a dense tuft. From May to July, and then again in September, it produces 4 to 5cm (2in) wide double flowers with intensely and finely fringed petals. They are carried at the end of short and sturdy stems. Its linear, glabrous, pointed, evergreen, and leathery leaves are of a beautiful grey-blue colour.

'Devon Cream' is a very pretty plant for borders, embankments, and dry rockeries. Its large, slightly dishevelled flowers bring undeniable charm to even the most modest decor. It can accompany the blue bells of wood hyacinths, Anemone coronaria, Madonna lilies, or other flowering cushions such as helianthemums, silenes, wall bellflowers, Arabis caucasica, Phlox subulata, Erigeron karvinskianus and Geranium sanguineum. To evoke gardens of the past, one can plant a small border of these delightful pinks at the foot of clumps of red peonies and old roses. This plant forms a nice edging between the stones of a wall or pavement, in a trough or in a container. It adapts very well to pot culture, in light soil.