DIANTHUS

Add fragrance, vivid color and timeless charm with this reliable, cold-hardy perennial.

- Marisa Reyes

1 Fragrant frontliners 'Bath's Pink' Cheddar pinks grows 9 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide, making it ideal for edging garden beds and adding a splash of pink to sunny beds and borders.

The name dianthus translates to "divine flower," and for good reason. Gardeners love this classic beauty for its intricate, fringed blooms but also for its sweet and spicy fragrance, reminiscent of cloves.

Flowers come in almost every color—from pale pinks, whites and lavenders to bold red, orange and striking bicolors. Grasslike green, blue-green or silvery leaves provide a striking backdrop to the unique, jagged-edged flowers, and look great even when plants aren't in bloom.

Additionally, the nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators, all while remaining unappealing to deer.

VERSATILE IN EVERY WAY Dianthus fits into a variety of garden settings. You can plant it in borders, as we've done at the front of the bed in our test garden at left, use it as a colorful ground cover or tuck it into containers. Plants bloom best in the cooler temperatures of spring, tapering off as summer's heat intensifies and often picking up again in fall. However, many newer varieties offer extended bloom periods, especially with regular deadheading, bringing vibrant color to your garden from spring all the way through fall. Mounding and upright habits also make dianthus perfect for edging garden paths or filling in gaps between larger plants. Whether you're cultivating a formal garden or a more relaxed, cottage-style landscape, there's probably a dianthus that will suit your needs.