Angel of Joy Dianthus

You will think the angels have taken over your garden when you see – and smell – the wonderful Angel of Joy Dianthus . Each bloom is a perfect picture of symmetrical spreading petals of white, edged in bright red – truly angelic. Pluck one, take a deep breath and be transported to heaven by the rich, warm fragrance of classical clove-scented pinks – a pleasure that has sadly been lost from those florist carnations. This easy plant forms a dense, ground-hugging mat of blue-silver foliage that rivals junipers for color and beauty. In spring a profusion of short stems rise up to almost a foot tall, each one carrying a 1½ inch bloom – a fabulous and colorful show. Through summer there will always be a few blooms, and even more in fall. Bred to tolerate heat and humidity, this great plant makes dianthus, also called ‘pinks’, available to southern gardeners, who usually can’t grow these great little plants. Perfect for rock gardens, sunny slopes, edging beds along paths and around a terrace, or for growing in pots, where you can enjoy their beauty close-up.

• Tight, ground hugging mat of silver-blue evergreen foliage
• A profusion of blooms in late spring, with more through summer and fall
• Striking small flowers of white petals edged in bright red
• Recaptures the classic, powerful scent of clove-scented pinks
• Great groundcover for rock gardens and sunny slopes

For good blooming, plant the Angel of Joy Dianthus in full sun, right out in the heat and brightness. It grows easily in any well-drained soil, and loves sandy and gravel soils. A great choice if you have alkaline soil or garden on limestone. In acidic soils it is best to mix a handful of garden lime into the soil when you are planting. A very tough plant that isn’t eaten by deer or by rabbits, and almost never has any pest or disease problems. Once established it is very drought tolerant, and makes a wonderful groundcover choice. Trim lightly after the main spring blooming, and remove individual flowers after that, as they die. Don’t cut back the foliage in fall as you do for most perennial plants – enjoy the winter color instead.