This butterfly magnet comes in many varieties, but the Most Beautiful Types of Dianthus for your home are listed below!
Replete with ruffled petals, striking colors, and a lingering fragrance, our list of the most beautiful types of Dianthus will also have countless butterflies, bees, and birds flocking to your home!
Types of Dianthus Varieties
Disclaimer: If you have pets, planting any Dianthus species in the garden might not be the best move for you. Most varieties, including the common ones, are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Or you can always grow them in pots and keep them out of their reach!
1. Carnations
Botanical Name: Dianthus caryophyllus
USDA Zones: 5a-9b (Some varieties do best in zones 7-10)
Carnations have ruffled petals and come in many colors. From Knapp’s carnations, which produce small, yellow blooms, to the show-stopping blood carnations, whose flowers are a red-pink, these Dianthus varieties are a classic that even moths and butterflies adore!
If your growing space is limited, check out these DIY pollinator pot ideas so you can enjoy these visits to your Dianthus blooms, even from your window or patio!
2. Pinks
Botanical Name: Dianthus plumarius
USDA Zones: 3a-9b
With clove-scented blooms in pink, red, and white with fringed petals, the summer and fall-flowering “Pinks” have a compact mat-forming growth habit.
Perfect for rock gardens, slopes, and rock walls, these pretty flowers need full sun and well-draining, neutral soil.
3. Sweet William
Botanical Name: Dianthus barbatus
USDA Zones: 6a-9b
Sweet William is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Dianthus varieties you can grow. With blooms that often appear in bi-colors and patterns in pink, purple, peach, and burgundy, even hummingbirds and songbirds love it!
These Dianthus types are actually short-lived perennials, but you could grow them as an annual.
4. China Pinks
Botanical Name: Dianthus chinensis
USDA Zones: 6a-9b
With dark centers, slender fringed petals, and stunning spring and summer blooms in shades of pink and red, China pinks are native to Northern China, Korea, Mongolia, and Southeastern Russia.
While they struggle in too much heat and humidity, these popular houseplants grow fuss-free in pots! You can also find lilac and bicolor varieties from D.chinensis and D.barbatus hybrids.
Fun Fact: For centuries, China pinks have been used in culinary preparations for their bioactive compounds and also in traditional Chinese medicine to support digestion and eye health, soothe skin irritations, and reduce edema.
5. Alpine Dianthus
Botanical Name: Dianthus alpinus
USDA Zones: 4a-8b
Endemic to the Eastern Austrian Alps, Alpine pinks are heat, cold, and drought-tolerant Dianthus varieties that are super hardy and low-maintenance. Most have deep pink flowers with white spots, but can also be found in lighter shades.
So, which of these lovely Dianthus flower types are you planning to add to your home garden next? Do share in the comments below!
