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Rock Garden Plants A to Z:
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Dianthus- (Rockery Pink)
Daphne cneorum |
Flower beds and borders are the place for the large member of this
genus- the Carnations, Sweet Williams and the Old-fashioned Pinks. This leaves
scores of dwarfs, and there are species suited to screes, troughs, paving
and walls as well as the planting pocket between the stones in the rock garden.
The Rockery Pinks form either neat cushions or spreading carpets of grey
and green grassy foliage. These leaves are covered by the sweet-smelling
and generally fringed flowers in May or June, just as the display of the
popular spring-flowering alpines comes to an end. Pink is the usual color
but whites, reds, purples and even one yellow (D. knappii) are available.
As a general rule the Rockery Pinks like but do not insist on chalky soils
but they all hate clayey ones.
VARIETIES:
Choose
D.
alpinus (Alpine Pink) if you want large 1 in. flowers on neat cushions of
green foliage- height 4 in., spread 6 in. flowering period May-August. The
dark-eyed blooms are available in pink, white or purple.
D.
deltoides (Maiden Pink) is an old favorite - height 8 in., spread 10 in.,
flowering period June-Septemeber. Pink is the usual color, but there is also
white
('Albus') and bright red
('Flashing
Light'). For covering large areas pick the carperter
D.
caesius
(D.
gratianopolitanus) - height 8 in., spread 2 ft., flowering period May-July. Minatures
for the trough or sink garden include
D. erinaceus
and
D. freynii
(height 2 in., flowers small and pink).
D.
neglectus
(D.
pavonius) is unusual - the flowers do no appear until July and August and
the pink petals have a biscuit-colored reverse. In addition to the species
there are many miniature hybrids, such as
'Little
Jack' (pink),
'La
Bourbrille' (Pink), and
'Nellie
Clark'
(red).
SITE
& SOIL:
Requires well-drained open soil. Thrives in full sun.
PROPAGATION:
Sow seeds under glass in spring or plant stem cuttings in a cold
frame in summer.
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