Dianthus plumarius Scent First Coconut Sundae

Dianthus Scent First Coconut Sundae adds a sparkling and fresh touch to the excellent Scent First® series of carnations. It features double white flowers that are awakened by a beautiful purple-violet eye in the throat. Like all its siblings in the Scent First® series, it has a compact habit, offers a long and pleasantly fragrant summer flowering, and performs excellently in the garden. 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 foliage even in winter. 

Dianthus 'Coconut Sundae' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a recently selected cultivar in England resulting from cross-breeding between D. plumarius and D. gratianopolitanus, among others. D. plumarius is a European perennial which is the main ancestor of different groups of carnations, both old-fashioned and modern. D. gratianopolitanus is native to Europe and Asia. It has passed on to its descendants its compact habit and its wonderful clove scent. Coconut Sundae grows fairly rapidly and consistently. It reaches a maximum height of 30cm (12in) with a spread of 25cm (10in) or more. This carnation forms a dense clump. From May to August, it produces wide double flowers measuring 4 to 5cm (2in) in diameter with toothed petals. They are carried on short, often branched stems. Its linear, glabrous, pointed, evergreen, and leathery leaves are a superb grey-blue colour.

Dianthus 'Coconut Sundae' is a very attractive plant for patios or balconies. Requiring little maintenance, it is hardy to at least -15°C (5°F). It is undemanding in terms of water, but loves the sun. It will thrive in well-drained borders, embankments, and rock gardens. Its beautiful scented flowers bring a lively touch to even the simplest decor. For example, it can be planted in front of other carnations with white, red, or pink colours ('Devon Dove', 'Devon Magic', 'Devon Cream', 'Letitia Wyatt'), or to accompany the blue bells of campanulas, the lavender-blue mosses of catmints, and small lavenders. Alternatively, plant it with other flowering cushions like helianthemums, silenes, wall bellflowers, Caucasus rock cress, creeping phlox, Erigeron karvinskianus, and bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum). To evoke old-fashioned gardens, a small border of these charming carnations can be planted at the base of peony clumps and old roses. This plant also looks lovely between the stones of a wall or pavement, in a trough or in a container.