The Dianthus Arctic Fire is easy, colourful and fragrant for the garden border...

About Dianthus Artic Fire

The Dianthus Arctic Fire can also be known by the name Maiden Pinks or Sweet William. I found this perennial quite by accident at a garden center sale. It was tucked in behind some other smaller perennial containers but colourful blooms at the end of the long slender erect stems caught my eye.

The frilly edged blooms are a bright white with red eyes centered and seem to last for quite some time before the blooms collapse together and turn brown.

Did you know that the blooms close up at night? I have not experienced this with my other Maiden Pink varieties. The blooms are also sweetly fragrant but you would have to get close up to really notice this feature.

While most gardeners use this perennial for border edging or in rock gardens, the Dianthus Arctic Fire or any Maiden Pink variety grows very nicely covering slopes or banks. I use mine as a groundcover.

How To Grow The Dianthus Arctic Fire

The Artic Fire grows best in a part sun location, however give it at least 5 hours of sunlight for optimum blooming. This is a perennial that grows in average to poor, well drained soil.

Once established, these pretty petite blooms are quite drought tolerant but for me I have noticed that they bloom better with regular watering. As well, remember to deadhead the spent blooms. This keeps the plant producing flowers.

The Dianthus Arctic Fire also responds well to a cut back after the first flush of flowers. Sometimes this method outways the deadheading as the long slender leaves can become too long and leggy thus making the plant look untidy.

The deep green foliage is somewhat evergreen so it is best not to cut back in the fall. In the spring, the dead or damaged stems can be removed.

Great companions plants: Felicia Daisy, Campanula white or Blue Clips, Sedum Dragons Blood or Sedum Angelina.

Or try growing this ground hugging perennial under the Becky Daisy, Liatris Blazing Star or the Salvia Black and Blue.

Check out my Site Index Page for a listing of additional annuals and perennials to plant in your flower garden design.

Dianthus Arctic Fire Features

Related pages:

Go back from Dianthus Arctic Fire Page to Gardening and Landscaping Makeover Home Page

Can't find what you are looking for? Use the Search Box below and thanks for visiting my web site.

Please visit again and why not 'Bookmark' this site as a favorite...makes it easy to find us again.