SOUTHVIEW NURSERIES
CHEQUERS LANE, EVERSLEY CROSS,
HOOK, HAMPSHIRE RG27 0NT
Tel: 0118 973 2206
Pinks - DIANTHUS
THE FLOWERS OF THE GODS
We have a particular love of these beautiful plants and are now holders of one of the national collections of old pinks. Love of the diversity in the dianthus family has gripped gardeners since at least the 17th century when John Parkinson wrote in his 'Garden of Pleasant Flowers' and described over sixty different garden varieties and species. They are truly part of our national garden heritage.
Naming of some varieties is rather muddled. Our naming follows a meeting of pinks experts in 1993 where many flowers of pinks were brought for comparison and a consensus agreed over certain cultivar names. The assumed date of introduction of some cultivars may be open to question. What is not open to question is the intrinsic beauty of the flowers.
CULTIVATION. Pinks require a sunny position in well drained soil. Avoid planting under overhanging trees or shrubs. Feed with bonemeal in spring and dress the soil with chalk or ground limestone before planting. If your soil is heavy then add good quantities of grit or pea shingle. Growing them on a mound to allow excess water to drain away is also of benefit. Pinks withstand drought exceptionally well, but must be watered well after planting to allow them to establish.
The following are named pinks raised from cuttings and all pot grown in 7 or 9 cm pots. The old varieties flower in June and July giving a mass of scented blooms. The more modern varieties are perpetual flowering i.e. June to the first frosts or longer if protected. Dead heading is the best way to have continual flowering and mixing old and new gives the benefits of scent and long flowering.
| SPECIES PINKS | |||
| Many of our favourite old named pinks developed by the natural crossing of various pinks plants in gardens, in earlier times many wild species from Europe were grown in gardens along with the more flamboyant varieties, we thought you might be interested in some which we find exciting and a pleasure to grow. Who knows you may even get a cross of your own. | |||
| Dianthus amurensis | A lovely species from East Asia 35cm branched stems display inch wide single flowers of rose-purple almost bluish with pretty deep purple central markings in Summer. |  | £3.00 |
| Dianthus carthusianorum | Sweet Johns. A tall seed raised species with dark green foliage and flower stems up to 90cms topped by clusters of purple flowers. Said to have been introduced by the Carthusian monks in medieval times. |  | £3.00 |
| Dianthus deltoides 'Alba' | Our native 'Maiden Pink' with creeping broad leaved stems and white flowers. Lovely ground cover. 8cms. | £2.50 | |
| Dianthus deltoides 'Nelli' | Dark green leaves and flowers of rich red with a darker eye.8cms Good ground cover. | £2.50 | |