Dianthus plumarius Haytor White

Dianthus plumarius 'Haytor White', commonly known as Haytor White Pinks, forms a thick, spreading cushion of semi-evergreen, slender, rough-textured leaves, with a bluish-green colour. This perennial offers abundant flowering, with intensely fragrant and sweet, double, pure white, fringed corollas. Already cherished by our grandmothers, this timeless perennial combines strength, frugality, and delicacy. Ideal for rock gardens and walls, in full sun.

'Haytor White' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a cultivar derived from Dianthus plumarius and D. caryophyllus. The former is a European perennial and the main ancestor of different groups of pinks, both old-fashioned and modern. The latter, native to the Mediterranean region, has passed on its recognisable sweet fragrance, reminiscent of cloves, to its many descendants. The growth of this pink is quite rapid. Its mature size will not exceed 25cm (10in) in height, with a spread of 30cm (12in). This pink forms a loose clump. From May to July, and again in September, it produces fragrant clusters of white, double flowers with ten fringed petals, measuring 4cm (2in) in diameter. They appear atop short stems, which are usually one-flowered. Its linear, glabrous, evergreen, and leathery leaves are a beautiful greyish-blue.

Dianthus plumarius 'Haytor White' is a border plant, suitable for embankments and dry rock gardens. It can be planted with other flowering cushions such as rock roses, catchflies, dwarf wormwood (Artemisia lanata), wall bellflowers, Caucasian rock cress, moss phlox, Cooper's ice plant (Delosperma cooperi), Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus), and bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum). This plant forms an attractive edging between the stones of a wall or pavement, or in a container. It adapts very well to pot cultivation, in light soil.