Dianthus

We had a great opening day at the Richmond Farmers' Market on Saturday. The support of the local community for our market is incredible and we're looking forward to another successful season at the Richmond Town Hall on Saturday mornings.

One of my favorite blooming perennials is Dianthus. Sweet William and Pink are two of the most popular varieties of Dianthus, but there are hundreds of others. Karen and I call our Dianthus Hedgehog because of its texture when not in bloom. One of the nicest characteristics of Dianthus, or worse characteristcis, depending on your viewpoint, it its ability to spread. Dianthus will take whatever space you give it. We like it because it gives a carpet of flowers in the spring and has silvery gray foliage the rest of the year. Its dense foliage also chokes out the weeds which is a big plus in the perennial bed.

We have Dianthus in two areas of our yard. In the front next to the driveway is where we planted it when we first got the plant years ago. It was in a gallon pot, but now takes up a spot at least six feet long and four feet wide. Three years ago we took a bit of this plant, divided it and planted it in the back near the flagstone patio. Those are the pictures you see above. That tiny transplant now takes up an area about five feet by five feet and is working its way up a hill. This evening Karen was talking about taking a bit of that Dianthus and transplanting it on the back of the berm. I'm sure it will do well in that locaion as well!