Goody Gumdrops Dianthus

Goody, goody, the Goody Gumdrops Dianthus is just what you have been waiting for. This dual-purpose perennial is as good as ground cover as it is in bloom. It forms a dense mat of silver-green foliage up to 2 feet across and just a few inches tall, that looks great at the front of perennial beds, in rock gardens, edging paths, or spilling over walls. Plus, in late spring and again in fall, it sends up a dense mass of flower stems, rising to around 9 inches tall, creating a carpet of beauty with its fragrant, frilly blooms of fuchsia-pink with red hearts. Each bloom is 1½ inches across, large enough to cut for table vases in your house, where the blooms will last up to 10 days. You will love the soft, classic fragrance, floral and spicy with the aroma of cloves, and you will love the frilly edges on the blooms, and the vibrant color that shines out across the garden. A great improvement on the classic garden ‘pinks’, this great plant is a ‘must have’ for anyone who loves bright colors and long bloom periods.

• A carpet of bright, fuchsia-pink blooms in spring and fall
• Dense, low mat of silver-green is evergreen for winter interest
• Ideal for edging beds and planting in rock gardens and retaining walls
• Big show of blooms in spring and again in fall
• Easy to grow and ideal for new gardeners

Out in the sun is what the Goody Gumdrops Dianthus enjoys, and that is where it will bloom the most. Plant it in any well-drained soil, even sandy and gravel soils, as good drainage is important, and established plants enjoy the drier times of summer. It grows best in alkaline soils, so if you have acidic soil, add a handful of garden lime when you prepare the soil for planting, and everything will be fine. Rabbits and deer normally leave it alone and it doesn’t have any serious pest or disease problems, so it’s very easy to grow. Use sharp shears to trim after the first flush of blooms, to tidy up the plant and keep the mat of foliage dense and tight. Remove dead flowers in fall, but don’t cut back to the ground as you do for most perennials – enjoy the winter color.