How to Grow Dianthus
Dianthus At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -34°C
Plant Family
Caryophyllaceae
Growing Season
Cool Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
The quickest way to flowers is a young plant from a garden centre. Set it out around your last frost in full sun and gritty soil that drains well, 25 cm apart, at the same depth it sat in its pot.
Dianthus, also called pinks, carnations and sweet william, are compact flowers with frilled petals, often with a clove scent, and blue-grey leaves. Many kinds live only a few years, so taking a few cuttings each summer keeps your favourites going.
When To Start
Dianthus likes cool weather. Sow it in early spring, as soon as the ground can be worked.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Dianthus?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Dianthus Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Dianthus Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant dianthus in full sun and gritty, well-drained soil
Around your last frost· every year
Snip off faded dianthus flowers for months of bloom
45 days after your last frost· every year· optional
Take dianthus cuttings to keep young plants coming
90 days after your last frost· every year· optional
Water your new dianthus plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
Hello from your dianthus! Water when the top of the soil is dry, as it hates soggy roots.
About 30 days after you plant it
Dianthus check! Snip off faded flowers to keep new ones coming.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Dianthus's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Give dianthus full sun, at least 6 hours a day.
- 2Plant it in lean, gritty soil that drains fast, since it rots in heavy, wet ground, and a little compost is plenty.
- 3Water only when the top few cm of soil are dry, and never let pots sit in water.
- 4Do not overfeed, since rich soil gives floppy plants with few flowers.
- 5Cut off faded flowers often, and trim the plants lightly after the main bloom to keep them bushy instead of woody.
- 6Dianthus can upset a cat's or dog's stomach, so plant it where pets will not chew it.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
30 cm
Mature Height
30 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Blooms late spring through summer; clove-scented and great for small posies
How to Harvest
- 1Snip off spent flowers every few days, which is the biggest thing you can do for a long bloom season.
- 2For small posies, cut stems early in the morning when the first flowers have just opened.
- 3After the main flush of flowers, trim the plants back by about a third to keep them compact.
- 4Take cuttings each summer so young plants are ready to replace older ones that get woody.
- 5Clear fallen leaves from around the plants in fall so the crowns stay dry over winter.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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