Top 10 Fragrant Low-Growing Dianthus!
Dianthus, commonly known as Garden Pinks or Border Pinks, are cherished for their vivid colors, clove-like fragrance, and charming frilled petals. These versatile perennials and annuals bring color, texture, and fragrance to landscapes while attracting butterflies and pollinators.
Featuring compact, mounded growth habits and long bloom times, Dianthus is an easy-care choice for garden enthusiasts. Many Groundcover Dianthus can be semi-evergreen and evergreen in warmer climates, keeping their glaucous blue-green spikey mats of leaves all year round!
All About Dianthus
The name Dianthus comes from the Greek words dios (divine) and anthos (flower), meaning "flower of the gods". The genus has a long and storied history, with records dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, where it was used in ceremonial garlands. Today, Dianthus symbolizes love, admiration, gratitude, and beauty.
In the Victorian language of flowers, different varieties of Dianthus carry distinct meanings:
- Red Carnations symbolize deep love and affection.
- Pink Garden Pinks convey admiration and gratitude.
- White Sweet William is associated with innocence and purity.
Dianthus belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family and includes over 300 species of annuals, perennials, and biennials.
Top 10 Dianthus Varieties To Fall In Love With
Ready to fall head over heels for the finest frilled blooms around? Check out these top-performing Dianthus varieties available at Nature Hills Online Plant Nursery:
1. Paint The Town® Dianthus (Proven Winners® ColorChoice®)
This compact, early-flowering, and long-blooming series earns its name with saturated colors and knockout fragrance.
- Paint The Town® Fuchsia: Hot pink blooms with a clove-like scent.
- Paint The Town® Magenta: Deep magenta-red flowers with blue-green mounded foliage.
Perfect for borders and containers!
2. Fruit Punch® Series – Raspberry Ruffles, Classic Coral & Cherry Vanilla
Ruffle up the garden with these textured, fragrant charmers!
- Raspberry Ruffles: Deep pink with raspberry-fringed petals and spicy perfume.
- Classic Coral: Luscious coral-pink pompom-style blooms.
- Cherry Vanilla: Full double blooms in cherry red with light pink edges.
All three are compact and fabulous for walkways, pots, and cottage gardens.
3. Vivid™ Bright Light Dianthus
Turn up the heat with electric pink blooms and glaucous foliage! Blooms in spring and reblooms all summer long. A top choice for slopes, mass plantings, edging, and containers.
4. Firewitch Dianthus
A classic fan-favorite for a reason! Neon pink blooms and a legendary spicy scent. Blooms in spring and reblooms through summer—perfect for groundcover, rock gardens, and sunny borders.
5. Everlast™ Series – Lavender Eye & Light Pink Eye
These long-lasting bloomers are showstoppers from spring to frost.
- Lavender Eye: Lavender-pink petals with dark purple centers.
- Light Pink Eye: Soft pink petals with pale pink eyes.
Great for edging, fragrance gardens, and pollinator-friendly spaces.
6. Kahori® Dianthus Collection
"Kahori" means fragrance—and these blooms live up to the name!
- Kahori® Original: Bright pink and beautifully fragrant.
- Kahori® Scarlet: Scarlet-pink blossoms.
- Kahori® Pink: Light pink with tall, airy stems.
A wonderful choice for fragrance borders and decorative containers.
7. Mountain Frost™ Series – Rose Bouquet & Ruby Glitter Cold-hardy beauties with showy patterns!
- Rose Bouquet: Rosy-pink petals with maroon striping.
- Ruby Glitter: Maroon-red blooms with light pink, cream speckles, and fringe edges—like glitter on petals!
Blooms from spring to early summer, then reblooms until frost.
8. Star™ Starburst Dianthus
Semi-double cherry-red blooms with pink and white splashes deliver star-quality impact! Spicy-sweet scent, compact size—great for containers and sunny spots.
9. Eastern Star Dianthus
Deep pink petals with eye-catching dark red centers and clove-like fragrance. Mounded form with silvery-green foliage—excellent for pollinator gardens and neat edging.
10. Odessa® Red Dianthus
Double blooms in rich crimson red with rosy-red edges. Spicy scent and vibrant coloring make it a perfect pick for cut flower gardens, borders, and sun-loving containers!
Let Dianthus Add Fragrance and Flair to Your Garden
From spicy-sweet scent trails to gorgeous, frilled blooms in rich colors, Dianthus truly earns its “divine flower” status. Whether you're tucking it into rock gardens, using it to edge pathways, or letting it spill over containers, Dianthus is a star performer in any sunny garden spot.
Here’s why you’ll love growing Dianthus:
- Long bloom seasons that stretch from spring through frost
- Fragrant flowers that perfume your outdoor space
- Compact growth habits are perfect for containers, window boxes, and planters
- Pollinator-friendly petals that welcome bees and butterflies
- Easy-care and drought-tolerant perennials once established
- Mass plantings for drifts, living mulch, and flowering groundcover
- Erosion control on slopes and hard-to-mow hillsides
- Tough enough to grow in hell-strips along roads and sidewalks
- Great edging and facer plants!
Find all the care and planting information you need to plant and grow your new Dianthus here!
So Many Dianthus, So Little Time—Which Will You Grow?
With hundreds of colorful options, there’s truly a Dianthus for every landscape and style. Add the divine touch of Dianthus to your garden today—and let your beds, borders, and containers bloom with personality and perfume!
Order your favorites now!
Happy Planting!
