Dianthus ‘Candy Floss’

We’ve loved this one on the nursery for years. Dianthus ‘Candy Floss’ is a really reliable performer, producing masses of highly-scented, frilly pink flowers from late spring. The flowers have purplish-red markings near the centre and sit on sturdy stems above the foliage, making them great for a small vase indoors. It’s an evergreen perennial, so the cushion of grassy, blue-green leaves provides interest all year.

This is a compact plant, forming a neat mound that will reach about 30cm in height and spread. It needs a spot in full sun to flower its best and is happiest in well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil. Once it’s settled in on our free-draining Thurning ground, it’s proven to be quite drought-tolerant.

It’s a low-maintenance plant that we find does well for years. To keep the flowers coming through summer, just make sure to deadhead the spent blooms. A light trim after the main flowering flush will help keep the plant looking tight and compact. It’s perfect for edging a path, filling gaps in a border, or for fragrant pots on the patio.