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Herbaceous Perennial

Dianthus petraeus

rock pink

An evergreen perennial which forms cushions to 10cm high, of grey-green narrow leaves. In summer it has white flowers with five petals which may be smooth-edged, toothed or deeply fringed and are sweetly scented

Other common names

fragrant snowflake garden pink

Synonyms

Dianthus suendermannii

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted, Matforming
Potentially harmful: Humans/Pets: Skin allergen, wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Dianthus can be annuals, evergreen perennials or subshrubs with narrow, often greyish leaves and showy flowers that are frequently fragrant
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Romania, Balkans

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained soil, ideally slightly alkaline, in good light

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, or by softwood cuttings of non-flowering shoots in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Banks and slopes

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, a rust, a virus and fusarium wilt

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