Dianthus plumarius Maggie

Dianthus 'Maggie' is a carnation or pink that displays a long and pleasantly scented summer flowering period, blooming from June to August. Its double flowers are bicoloured. They are pink with a carmine red centre. They are distinguished by their pronounced fragrance. Particularly suitable for pot cultivation due to its small size and abundant flowering, it is also an excellent perennial for sunny borders, where it forms persistent cushions of beautiful grey-blue even in winter.

'Maggie' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is one of the many cultivars resulting from the cross-breeding of Dianthus plumarius and D. caryophyllus. D. plumarius is a European perennial that is the main ancestor of the various groups of old-fashioned and modern carnations and pinks. D. caryophyllus is Mediterranean, and it has passed on to its descendants its wonderful clove fragrance and its tolerance to limestone and dry soils. Its growth rate is quite fast. Its adult size will not exceed 20cm (8in) in height with a spread of 30cm (12in) or more. This pink forms a dense clump. From June to August, it produces round, double flowers measuring 4 to 5cm (2in) with laciniate petals. The flowers are carried at the end of short, often branched stems. Its linear, glabrous, pointed, evergreen, and leathery leaves are a superb grey-blue.

Dianthus 'Maggie' is ideal for patios or balconies. It is hardy to at least -15°C (5°F), and is not demanding in terms of water. It is a sun-loving plant. It will thrive in well-drained borders, embankments, and rockeries. Its beautiful fragrant flowers bring undeniable charm to even the humblest decor. For example, it can be planted in front of other carnations ('Devon Dove', 'Cranmere Pool', 'Devon Cream', 'Letitia Wyatt', 'Whatfield Gem'), or to accompany the blue bells of campanulas, the lavender-blue mosses of catmints, and small lavenders, or flowering cushions such as rockroses, catchflies, wall bellflowers, Caucasian rock cress, moss phlox, Erigeron karvinskianus, and bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum). To evoke gardens of the past, a small border of these delightful carnations can be planted at the base of clumps of peonies and old roses. This plant looks lovely between the stones of a wall or paving, in a trough or planter.