Dianthus plumarius Helen

Dianthus 'Helen' exhibits a rare hue among carnations. It forms a thick cushion of semi-evergreen, rough-textured, bluish-green leaves. This perennial offers abundant flowering, with an intense and sweet fragrance, in slightly undivided corollas of light pink with distinct salmon-coloured reflections and a more intense centre. This timeless perennial combines strength, frugality, and delicacy. Ideal for rockeries and walls, in full sun.

'Helen' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a cultivar resulting from cross-breeding between Dianthus plumarius and D. caryophyllus. D. plumarius is a European perennial that is the main ancestor of various groups of carnations and pinks, both old-fashioned and modern. D. caryophyllus is Mediterranean and has passed on to its descendants its wonderful clove fragrance. Its growth rate is quite rapid. Its adult size will not exceed 30 to 35cm (12 to 14in) in height with a spread of 30cm (12in), or even more. It forms a somewhat loose tuft, from which emerge pale salmon-pink bouquets of double flowers, marked with purple at the heart. The flowers bear lightly fringed petals. The highly fragrant blooms appear at the top of short stems, usually bearing a single flower. Its linear, glabrous, evergreen, and leathery leaves are a superb grey-blue colour.

Dianthus plumarius 'Helen' is perfect in borders, embankments, and dry rockeries. It can be accompanied by other flowering cushions such as rock roses, campions, dwarf wormwood (Artemisia lanata), wall bellflowers, Caucasian rock cress, moss phlox, Cooper's ice plant, Mexican fleabane, and bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum). This plant looks lovely between the stones of a wall or paving, or in a planter. It adapts very well to pot cultivation in light soil.

Pinks are the result of cross-breeding between Dianthus plumarius and D. caryophyllus. They form large, loose, spreading cushions with long, narrow foliage, which is greenish-grey with bluish reflections. The flowering is often fragrant.