Dianthus Facts For Kids

nadeshiko is the name given to some Dianthus in Japan, and it carries special meanings. In the old language of flowers, pink Dianthus often stand for boldness or courage. People used these meanings when they gave flowers to show feelings without words.

Some Dianthus become local symbols: Dianthus gratianopolitanus, the Cheddar pink, is the county flower of Somerset in England, and Dianthus japonicus is the official flower of Hiratsuka in Japan. In Japan, Dianthus superbus (called nadeshiko) is linked to the idea of a gentle, graceful woman known as "Yamato nadeshiko." Have you ever seen a flower that stands for a place or idea?

Dianthus plants are part of small food webs. Some moth caterpillars eat their leaves or flowers, including young larvae of the common cabbage moth and the large yellow underwing. Because these caterpillars need plants to grow, Dianthus helps them survive and later become moths.

A few tiny moths called case-bearers (scientists call them Coleophora) are even more connected: three of these species feed only on Dianthus. For example, Coleophora musculella eats the wild Dianthus superbus. When an insect depends on one plant, we say it is "exclusive," which means protecting the plant helps protect the insect too. What other small animals might live around Dianthus in a garden?

The name Dianthus comes from ancient Greek words that mean “flower of Zeus.” People long ago used this grand name because they thought these flowers were special and beautiful. The common word “pink” has an interesting story too: one idea is that it comes from the old verb “to pink,” which meant to make a decorative, punched edge like the frilled petals of some Dianthus flowers.

Another idea says the colour name “pink” might come from a Dutch word linked to Pentecost, the time when these flowers bloom. Which name story do you find most surprising?

Dianthus has been grown and changed by people since about 1717, so gardeners now have thousands of different kinds. Breeders chose colors, shapes, sizes, and smells, which is why you can find many looks of Dianthus in gardens and shops.

Gardeners sort them into groups for different places: hardy border carnations (about 60 cm tall) for flower beds; perpetual-flowering carnations (grown in glasshouses) that can reach 150 cm for cutting; Malmaison carnations prized for a clove-like scent; old-fashioned and modern pinks for beds; and tiny alpine pinks for rock gardens. More than 100 varieties earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Which kind would you plant?

Most Dianthus are herbaceous perennials, which means the leafy parts grow back each year from the same roots. A few kinds live only one or two years, and a tiny number are low shrubs with woody stems at the base. The leaves usually grow in pairs opposite each other, are narrow and simple, and often have a greyish or blue-green color.

The flowers almost always have five petals with frilled or jagged edges, and many are shades of pale to deep pink. Some species surprise you with other colors, such as a yellow flower with a dark center. A lot of perennial pinks smell spicy and sweet, which helps attract insects that pollinate them.

The plant group called Dianthus includes about 340 kinds of flowering plants. They are part of the family Caryophyllaceae, a group of plants that often have pretty, star-like flowers. Most Dianthus species grow naturally in Europe and Asia, but a few live in north and southern Africa and even in arctic North America. People use several common names for these plants: carnation, pink, and sweet william. Carnations are the kind you might see in bouquets, while pinks often grow at the front of garden beds. What do you like most about the flowers you see outside?

Scientists organize Dianthus into many species and some garden hybrids. A few names you might hear are Dianthus caryophyllus (the carnation), Dianthus plumarius (garden pink), and Dianthus barbatus (sweet william). Other wild species include Alpine pink (Dianthus alpinus), Deptford pink (Dianthus armeria), Cheddar pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus), and Fringed pink (Dianthus superbus).

Gardeners also grow hybrid varieties that mix traits like color and scent. For example, hybrids called ‘Devon Xera’ and ‘John Prichard’ were bred for bright color or long-lasting blooms. In all, the genus contains about 340 different kinds of Dianthus.