Tufted blue-grey perennial with fringed pink, white, or bicoloured flowers carrying a powerful clove fragrance. The classic edging pink of British cottage gardens, distinct from the biennial sweet William.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 3–8 | −40 °C to −6.7 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 3–8 | −34 °C to −1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–5 | −15 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Plant as edging in cottage gardens, gravel beds, and rock gardens — silver-blue tufts give year-round structure
- Edible petals — clove-scented, used to flavour syrups, vinegars, and historic Dianthus wine; remove the bitter white petal heel before use
- Distinct from sweet William (Dianthus barbatus, already in the database from batch 6) — cottage pinks are perennial, lower, and strongly clove-scented
- Drought tolerant once established, demands sharp drainage
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Cottage pinks against your zones