Dianthus

[johnralphcarpenter]

Plants in the revamped rock garden are coming into flower: Dianthus pavonius, D. weyrichii, D. anatolicus, D. squarrosus.

[Tristan_He]

Very nice Ralph, I have D. pavonius coming from seed but I'm not expecting flowers this year.

My Dianthus are coming too:



Dianthus superbus sp. or possibly a hybrid by the pond edge.



'Whatfield Magenta' on top of the wall. It grows in about 3 inches of soil and is never watered or fed.

[johnralphcarpenter]

You grow D. superbus by water? I know its a sub alpine species, but do you find it needs or will tolerate plenty of moisture? I ask because mine in struggling in a hot sunny gravel bed.

[Tristan_He]

Hi Ralph, It's by water but not a wet spot. The pond is made with a retaining wall on one side because we are on sloping ground. There is a liner to hold water, backfilled with some soil between it and the wall. This soil is very poor and dry so I grow things like Dianthus, Lotus corniculatus, Anthyllis etc.

I haven't found D. superbus particularly fussy with regard to moisture - it grows for me in normal garden conditions and also in a very dry spot on top of the wall next to the 'Whatfield Magenta'.

Not sure if that's much help, perhaps mine is a more vigorous form (or even a hybrid?)

[Gabriela]

Hi Ralph, It's by water but not a wet spot. The pond is made with a retaining wall on one side because we are on sloping ground. There is a liner to hold water, backfilled with some soil between it and the wall. This soil is very poor and dry so I grow things like Dianthus, Lotus corniculatus, Anthyllis etc.

I haven't found D. superbus particularly fussy with regard to moisture - it grows for me in normal garden conditions and also in a very dry spot on top of the wall next to the 'Whatfield Magenta'.
Not sure if that's much help, perhaps mine is a more vigorous form (or even a hybrid?)

I was looking at your beautiful white Dianthus clump Tristan, with the Anthyllis in the background and was thinking just the same - that it may be a hybrid. I'll post an image with the type Dianthus superbus; not a great picture, it's from a plant that struggled in a container for 2 years. It is indeed a species that prefers moist locations, as far as I've seen in the wild. Heavenly scented!

[Tristan_He]

Hmm Gabriela, I thought that's what I received it as but maybe I am mistaken, or maybe it was mislabelled when I bought it. There are one or two imposter Dianthus doing the rounds through seed exchanges etc.

Anyway, it's a nice little pink, whatever it is! I'll post closeups of the flowers and foliage in case anyone can shed any light.

[Hoy]

Tristan, I think Gabriela is right. I grow D. superbus (unfortunately no pics) but my plant looks like Gabriela's.
It is native to Northern Norway:

http://www.draglandplanteskole.no/Bilder/Dianthus%20superbus.jpg

(Nursery: http://www.draglandplanteskole.no/PlanteSortiment.aspx?Kategori=Stauder&navpath=Planteutvalg%2fStauder )

[Tristan_He]

Thanks both. I will have to do some detective work...

[johnralphcarpenter]

Pleased with the way the Dianthus are performing in the revamped little rock garden: D. squarossus, D. spiculifolius, D. freynii. And some good old Devon Pinks in the gravel bed.

[Karaba]

Some other dianthus

Dianthus deltoides
Dianthus pungens (end of blooming) from south-east of France
Dianthus saxicola (= Dianthus sylvestris), different color

[Karaba]

Again, few dianthus... all wild collected from cutting.

Dianthus gyspergae (from Corsica)
Dianthus hyssopifolius
Dianthus seguieri pseudocollinus
Dianthus x saxatilis (= Dianthus hyssopifolius X Dianthus seguieri)

[Karaba]

Two more

Dianthus carthusianorum
Dianthus sp. : if someone have an idea... I can post more picture.

[Tristan_He]

D. seguiriana subsp. pseudocollina is lovely isn't it Yvain? We came across a lot of it in the Livradois-Forez a couple of years ago and collected a little seed. It has established well in the garden and I love the contrasting dark calyx. The only thing that would improve it is a decent scent!

[Karaba]

Even crossed with D. hyssopifolius (which has a nice scent, you should try it), it still has no scent but a nice big flower (see D. x saxatilis).

[Gabriela]

Nice Dianthus collection Yvain!