Dianthus barbatus is one cottage garden flower I would never be without. I grow mine from seed and they are charmingly variegated with little fringes. I have grown the solid colors as well, but I get the mixed seed type so one never knows what colors will show up! In bloom, the fragrance carries through the air.
Fine Gardening calls them short-lived perennials or biennials. I knock the ripe seeds to the garden bed, so am never without.
- Full Sun
- Medium moisture
- Clumping habit
- Self seeds
- Short 1ft to tall 3ft varieties
- Late spring to early summer bloom
- Attracts bees, butterflies, birds
- Edible flowers
