Barely a foot high, China pink (Dianthus chinensis) carries flowers in solid or mixed shades running from white through pink, purple and violet to red, but almost no scent. It is one of the longest-blooming annuals, lining edges, beds, boxes and pots for months — provided it gets three to four hours of direct sun a day.
| Name | Dianthus chinensis |
|---|---|
| Family | Caryophyllaceae |
| Type | annual |
| Height | 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun, part sun |
| Soil | well drained, ordinary |
| Sowing | late winter to early spring |
| Flowering | mid-spring to mid-autumn |
This short and neat-growing flower is excellent for lining edges, flower beds and garden boxes.
Once you’ve got some going, or if a neighbor is growing them, go ahead and start them from seed. If not, simply buy a few potted plants at a nearby nursery to plant.
China pink can be sown as early as February, even a bit earlier for regions that are more in the South.
Note that your China pink will need sufficient sun to bloom, at least 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight a day.
For China pinks purchased in containers, plant them to the ground in spring or at the end of summer, these are the two ideal planting dates.
China pink can be raised from seed under cover, sown straight into the ground, or simply bought as potted plants. The route you pick decides when you start and how soon the plants reach the border.
| Method | When | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing under shelter | Late winter to early spring (earlier in warmer regions) | Cover seed only thinly, as it needs light; germination at 65 to 68°F (18 to 20°C) in 1 to 2 weeks, then pot on and move outdoors in late spring once frost risk has gone |
| Direct sowing in the ground | Mid to late spring | Sown where the plants are to flower, if the climate in your area permits |
| Potted plants from the nursery | Spring or late summer | The two ideal planting dates; space plants 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) apart so they have room to grow |
Whichever route you take, choose a spot giving at least three to four hours of direct sunlight a day, or flowering will suffer.
China pink doesn’t require any care once it is properly settled in. Performing these few tasks will help enhance and extend the blooming.
As soon as the first fall frost spells have hit, your China pink should die off and normally won’t grow back the following year. You can pull them out before winter.
China pink is native to its namesake country. China pink offers a very long blooming period, from March and April up to end of October, which makes it one of the longest-blooming annuals.
The colors of its flowers are either solid or mixed, and go from white to red with instances of pink, purple or violet.
This undemanding plant can be planted on rocky ground, along edges, but also are appealing in flower beds, garden boxes and pots.
China pink flowers carry almost no scent, unlike the clove-scented border carnation.
Keep mulch and damp leaf litter clear of the crown, as the collar of China pink rots quickly when it stays wet.
China pink flowers are vulnerable to rust. To avoid this, rotate them to a different spot from one year to the next.
