| General Description | Dianthus barbatus 'Pink' is a short-lived perennial usually treated as a biennial with long, dark green, lanceolate-elliptic leaves and clusters of small, flat, serrated, pink flowers. |
| Landscape | A old-fashioned cottage garden favourite. Good for borders and containers. |
| Propagation | By seed sown in trays in late spring or early summer in a cold frame. Prick out 15 cm apart and plant outside in autumn. In colder climates, keep in the cold frame protected with mats from heavy frost. |
| Cultivation | Grow in full sun, in moderately moist, well-drained, humusy soil. Tolerant of some shade. Usually grows as a self-seeding biennial. |
| Pests | Possible problems include: snails, slugs and crown rot and rust, especially when grown in poorly draining soil. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Leaf Description | Flat, lanceolate-elliptic, up to 2 ⨉ 10 cm, dark green with prominent midrib. |
| Flower Description | Flat, five-petalled, pink with serrated margins, in dense terminal clusters 7.5 - 13 cm in diameter. |
