Maiden Pink Dianthus 'Komachi' (pf)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Dianthus 'Komachi' is a charming flowering plant notable for its vibrant, eye-catching blooms. The flowers are a distinctive feature, with deeply fringed petals that create an intricate, lace-like appearance. These petals are often found in a striking hue of pink or magenta, which can exude a bright and vivid impression in any garden setting. The color of the petals is so intense that it can sometimes seem to glow, adding a sense of warmth and liveliness to the area where the plant resides. The center of each bloom often showcases a contrasting color, such as a lighter pink or white, creating a lovely, two-toned effect that adds depth and interest. Another attractive quality of the Dianthus 'Komachi' is its foliage. The leaves typically have a slender, linear shape, and they exhibit a blue-green or grayish-green color, which provides a beautiful backdrop for the dazzling flowers. This foliage can form a neat, compact mound that cradles the blossoms, enhancing their visual appeal. Additionally, the plant is known for emitting a sweet, spicy fragrance that is especially delightful on warm, sunny days, infusing outdoor spaces with a pleasant, soothing aroma that can be enjoyed from quite a distance away. Overall, Dianthus 'Komachi' presents itself as a plant that is not only aesthetically pleasing due to its showy, fragrant flowers and attractive foliage but also adds a lively burst of color to any setting in which it is planted, making it a popular choice among garden enthusiasts.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae
- Synonyms
  Cheddar Pink, Pink, Carnation, Sweet William
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Komachi'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Dianthus 'Komachi', more commonly known as Carnation, is generally not considered toxic to humans. However, like with many plants, certain individuals may have sensitivities or allergic reactions if they ingest parts of the plant or come into contact with its sap. In those cases, ingestion could potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset such as nausea or vomiting. It is also possible for skin contact with the sap to cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Most occurrences of contact with carnations do not lead to serious toxicity or long-term consequences.
- To pets
  The common Carnation, which relates to the Dianthus 'Komachi', is not typically listed as toxic to pets by authoritative sources such as the ASPCA. However, consumption of significant quantities could potentially cause mild gastrointestinal distress in some pets, including symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea. In general, while not considered highly toxic, it is advisable to prevent your pets from ingesting this plant to avoid any potential discomfort or reactions.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Blue-green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  0.75 feet (23 cm)
- Spread
  0.5 feet (15 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  Japan

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Value: Dianthus 'Komachi' adds vibrant color and visual interest to gardens and landscapes with its beautiful, deeply fringed pink flowers.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers provide a source of nectar for butterflies and bees, promoting biodiversity.
- Long Blooming: Known for its long flowering period, it gives a consistent display of color through the growing season.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it has good drought tolerance, requiring less water compared to some other garden plants.
- Low Maintenance: This perennial is relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal care once it is well established.
- Cold Hardiness: With proper care, it can withstand cooler temperatures and survive in a range of hardiness zones.
- Versatile Planting: Ideal for garden borders, rockeries, and as ground cover, giving gardeners multiple landscaping options.
- Container Gardening: Suitable for containers or pots, it can embellish patios, balconies, and indoor environments.
- Cut Flowers: The blooms are suitable for cut flower arrangements, adding freshness and color to indoor settings.
- Compact Growth: Its compact and mounding growth habit makes it a suitable plant for small garden spaces.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Edible Garnish - The petals of the Dianthus 'Komachi' can be used to add a colorful touch to salads or desserts.
- Crafting Potpourri - The flowers have a pleasant fragrance and can be dried to create homemade potpourri for a natural room freshener.
- Natural Fabric Dye - The vibrant petals can be used to create a natural dye for fabrics, giving them a pinkish hue.
- Artistic Inspiration - Artists may use the striking appearance of Dianthus 'Komachi' as a subject or inspiration for paintings, drawings, and other forms of artwork.
- Photography Enhancements - The plant's vivid colors and unique form makes it a popular choice for photographers looking to add natural beauty to their compositions.
- Floral Arrangements - The long-lasting flowers are often used in cut floral arrangements, adding fragrance and a splash of color to bouquets.
- Bookmark Decoration - Dried petals can be laminated onto bookmarks for a decorative and personal touch.
- Garden Aesthetics - 'Komachi' can be planted as part of a garden color theme or design, enhancing the visual appeal of the landscape.
- Eco-Friendly Confetti - Biodegradable, the petals can serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paper confetti at celebrations.
- Education and Study - The plant's growth habits and adaptations can be studied in horticulture and botany classes for educational purposes.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Dianthus 'Komachi', commonly known as Pink, is not typically used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Pink is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Devotion: Dianthus 'Komachi', commonly known as the carnation, often symbolizes devotion due to its long-lasting blooms that symbolize enduring love.
- Distinction: The carnation's variety of colors and patterns represent uniqueness and the importance of standing out, making it a symbol of distinction.
- Affection: Carnations are traditionally given as a sign of affection, with the understanding that the receiver is cherished and adored.
- Love: The connection to love, both romantic and familial, is a primary symbolic meaning for the carnation, often used in bouquets for special occasions that celebrate love.
- Health and Energy: Carnations are sometimes seen as a representation of good health and vitality, relating to their invigorating fragrance and hardiness.
- Fascination: This flower is often associated with new relationships and early fascination, capturing the essence of a budding romance or the beginning of a deep friendship.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Maiden Pinks should be watered deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Generally, watering once a week with about one inch of water is adequate, which translates to roughly 0.6 gallons per square foot. During hot or dry spells, increase the frequency to twice a week. Ensure the soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging. Overhead watering should be avoided to keep the foliage dry and prevent disease; instead, use drip irrigation or water at the base of the plants.
Light
Maiden Pinks thrive in full sun conditions, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to perform best. They can tolerate partial shade, but too much shade can lead to sparse blooms and a leggy growth habit. Locate them in a spot where they can enjoy the morning sun, which is less harsh than the afternoon sun, especially in areas with hot summers.
Temperature
Maiden Pinks prefer moderate temperatures and perform well in the range of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but they can tolerate temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid exposing the plant to prolonged temperatures outside of this range as it can cause stress or damage to the plant.
Pruning
Maiden Pinks should be pruned to remove faded flowers and encourage a second bloom. Deadheading, or cutting off the spent blooms, can be done throughout the blooming season. After the first flush of flowers, prune the plant back by one-third to maintain a compact form and promote new growth. Pruning should be done with clean, sharp shears to minimize damage and prevent the spread of disease.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Dianthus 'Komachi', commonly known as Pink, thrives in well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH level between 6.5 to 7.5. The best soil mix can be achieved by combining loam, compost, and coarse sand in equal parts. This mix ensures proper drainage while providing enough organic matter for nutrition.
Repotting
Pinks, including Dianthus 'Komachi', generally require repotting every 2 to 3 years to ensure they have enough room to grow and to refresh the soil. Spring is the best time to repot, just before the new growth starts.
Humidity & Misting
Dianthus 'Komachi', or Pink, prefers moderate humidity levels. Aim to maintain humidity around 40-50% for optimal growth. They do not require high humidity and should do well in typical household conditions.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure full sun, use well-draining soil, and allow airflow.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil, and water when dry.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Dianthus 'Komachi', commonly known as Maiden Pink, begins its life cycle as a seed, typically germinating in the cool temperatures of early spring. Once the seed germinates, a seedling emerges, developing true leaves in addition to the cotyledons, and gradually matures into a vegetative plant. During its vegetative stage, the plant forms a dense mound of slender, blue-green foliage. As it enters the flowering stage, Maiden Pink produces a profusion of vibrant pink to purple flowers with notched petals, typically blooming in late spring to summer. After pollination, often by bees or butterflies, the flowers develop into small seed capsules, which then release seeds to complete the cycle. Maiden Pink is a perennial, so it can enter a period of dormancy in the winter before reemerging in the spring to repeat the cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Dianthus 'Komachi', commonly called Pinks, is best propagated through softwood cuttings, which is the most popular method for this plant. This type of propagation typically takes place in late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing but before the stems become too woody. To propagate Pinks by cuttings, select healthy, non-flowering stems and cut a segment about 4 to 6 inches long, making sure there are several nodes. Strip off the lower leaves and dip the cut end into rooting hormone powder to encourage root development. Then, insert the cuttings into a mix of half perlite and half peat moss or a similar well-draining propagation medium, and maintain high humidity and consistent moisture. Roots typically form within a few weeks, after which the new plants can gradually be acclimatized to less humid conditions and eventually planted out into the garden when they have developed a robust root system and are showing signs of new growth.