Carnation Dianthus 'Prado Mint' (PBR) (pf)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

perpetual-flowering carnation 'Prado Mint'

ABOUT

Dianthus 'Prado Mint' is characterized by its striking floral display and lush foliage. The plant is adorned with a profusion of blooms, which showcase a charming shade of soft pink. These flowers are notable for their fringed petal edges, giving them a delicately lacy appearance that adds texture and visual interest. Each flower exudes a sweet fragrance that is reminiscent of cloves, contributing to the sensory appeal of the plant. Nestled among the blooms, the foliage of Dianthus 'Prado Mint' creates a complementary backdrop. The leaves are slender and elongated, with a blue-green hue that contrasts beautifully with the pink flowers. The foliage forms a dense mound, contributing to the plant's overall lush and healthy look. This rich greenery also serves as an evergreen presence in the garden, maintaining visual interest even when the plant is not in bloom. Dianthus 'Prado Mint' has a tidy and compact growth habit, which makes it suitable for a variety of garden settings. It adds a touch of elegance to borders, rock gardens, and containers, where its showy blooms and lovely scent can be fully appreciated. The plant's neat appearance and the appealing combination of its blooms and foliage make it a popular choice for gardeners looking to add a splash of color and fragrance to their outdoor spaces.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae
- Synonyms
  Prado Mint Dianthus, Pink Kisses Flower
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Prado Mint' (PBR) (pf)
Toxicity
- To humans
  Dianthus 'Prado Mint', commonly known as Prado Mint, is not typically considered a poisonous plant to humans. However, like many plants, if ingested in large quantities, it could potentially cause an upset stomach, nausea, or skin irritation. It is always advisable to avoid ingesting any part of ornamental plants and to keep them away from small children who might accidentally ingest them.
- To pets
  Prado Mint is generally not considered toxic to pets. However, individual animals might have sensitivities, and ingestion of the plant could potentially lead to mild gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. If a pet consumes a large amount of the plant, it is best to monitor for any signs of distress and consult a veterinarian if any adverse reactions occur.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Blue-green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Spread
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive Flowers: Dianthus 'Prado Mint' boasts beautiful, brightly colored flowers that can add aesthetic value to any garden or landscape.
- Long Blooming Period: This plant typically has a lengthy blooming period, bringing color and vibrancy to your garden for an extended time.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Dianthus 'Prado Mint' can tolerate periods of drought, making it suitable for gardens in drier climates.
- Low Maintenance: This variety of Dianthus is relatively easy to care for, making it a good choice for novice gardeners or those with limited time.
- Attracts Wildlife: The flowers can attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, enhancing the biodiversity of your garden.
- Fragrant Flowers: The blooms often have a pleasant fragrance, which can add an extra layer of enjoyment when spending time outdoors.
- Edging and Borders: Its compact growth habit makes it an excellent choice for edging paths or creating borders in a garden setting.
- Container Planting: Dianthus 'Prado Mint' is also well-suited for container planting, offering flexibility for those with limited garden space or for adding accents on patios or balconies.
- Cold Hardy: This plant can withstand cooler temperatures, making it suitable for a variety of climates and extending its growing season in certain regions.
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 Decorations: The leaves and flowers of the Pink can be crystallized with a sugar coating and used as edible garnishments on desserts.
- Plant Dye: The petals of Pink can be used to create a natural dye for fabric or paper crafting.
- Potpourri Ingredient: Dried Pink petals can be included in potpourri mixes for their color and subtle fragrance.
- Bath Infusions: Fresh or dried flowers of the Pink can be infused in bathwater for a soothing and aromatic experience.
- Floral Arrangements: Pinks are popular in floral arrangements for weddings and other occasions due to their attractive shape and color.
- Photo Shoot Prop: Pinks, with their striking appearance, can serve as an elegant prop for garden-themed photography sessions.
- Greeting Cards: Dried Pink petals can be used to embellish handmade paper or greeting cards.
- Artisanal Crafts: The flowers of the Pink can be incorporated into artisanal soaps for their texture and scent.
- Culinary Flavoring: While not a common spice, Pink petals can add a unique flavor to some special recipes, similar to the use of rose petals in certain cuisines.
- Bookmark Creation: Pressed Pink flowers can be laminated to create beautiful, nature-inspired bookmarks.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Pink is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Pink is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Love: The genus Dianthus, which includes carnations and pinks, is often associated with affection and love. Carnations are historically symbolic of love and fascination.
- Distinction: The name "Dianthus" comes from the Greek words for divine ("dios") and flower ("anthos"). Therefore, they symbolize the idea of distinction or divine beauty.
- Pure Affection: Carnations are sometimes used to represent pure love and affection, differing from the romantic love symbolized by roses.
- Gratitude: Different colors of carnations express different sentiments, with light red carnations specifically symbolizing admiration and deep love, echoing a sense of gratitude.
- Good Luck: In some cultures, gifting carnations is believed to bring good luck and positive energy to the recipient.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Pinks, as Dianthus 'Prado Mint' is commonly known, prefer to be watered deeply and then allowed to dry out slightly between waterings, which usually means watering once or twice a week depending on weather conditions. It's important to water at the base of the plant, avoiding wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases. In general, an inch of water per week, including rainfall, is sufficient, so adjust your watering to supplement what nature provides. Overhead watering should be avoided to prevent foliage diseases. Always check the top inch of soil for moisture before watering; if it's dry, it's time to water.
Light
Pinks grow best in full sun, where they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. They will thrive in a location that gets bright, unfiltered sunlight for most of the day. While they can tolerate some light shade, too much shade can result in leggy plants and reduced flowering. To ensure vigorous growth and abundant blooms, always choose the sunniest spot available in your garden for these plants.
Temperature
Pinks are cold-hardy and can survive temperatures down to about 20°F, but they grow best in temperatures between 60°F and 70°F. They can usually handle summer heat up to 85°F without much trouble. Extreme temperatures on either end can stress the plants or stunt their growth, so pay attention to sudden temperature swings.
Pruning
Pinks benefit from pruning to promote bushy growth and to remove spent flower heads, which encourages further blooming. Deadheading should be done regularly throughout the blooming season. A more thorough pruning to shape the plant and remove old stems is best done in early spring before new growth begins. This helps to rejuvenate the plant and maintain a compact form.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
For Dianthus 'Prado Mint', commonly known as pinks, the best soil mix is well-draining, loamy soil with added organic matter such as compost. A slightly alkaline pH of 7.0 to 8.0 is ideal for these plants, ensuring optimal growth and flowering.
Repotting
Pinks typically do not require frequent repotting and can thrive in the same container for several years. They should be repotted only if they outgrow their current pot or the soil becomes depleted, usually every 2-3 years.
Humidity & Misting
Pinks prefer moderate humidity levels. They can adapt to average household humidity levels, making them suitable for a wide range of indoor environments without the need for additional humidity.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright light, well-drained soil, and cool temperatures.
- Outdoor
  Choose sunlit spot, protect from extreme wet, and enrich soil.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
The Dianthus 'Prado Mint', commonly known as Carnation, begins its life cycle with seed germination, ideally in early spring under proper temperature and soil conditions. Seedlings emerge and grow into vegetative plants, developing a rosette of leaves at the base and eventually elongating into flowering stems. Flower buds form at the tips of these stems and bloom into the characteristic fragrant pink flowers, attracting pollinators for sexual reproduction. After pollination, the flowers develop into fruit capsules containing seeds. Once mature, these seeds are dispersed by various means, completing the cycle with the potential to germinate and produce new plants. Over time, perennials like the Dianthus 'Prado Mint' may enter a period of dormancy during adverse conditions, such as winter, only to resume growth in the following favorable season.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Dianthus 'Prado Mint' (PBR) (pf), commonly known as Pink, is most commonly propagated through stem cuttings. The best time to take stem cuttings for Pink propagation is in late spring or early summer when the plant's growth is most vigorous. To propagate, one would select a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a 4 to 6-inch (10 to 15 cm) portion just below a node. The lower leaves are then removed, and the cut end is dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. This stem cutting is then planted in a well-draining soil mix, ensuring that at least one node is buried where roots can form. The pot with the cutting should be kept moist but not waterlogged and placed in a warm area with indirect sunlight until the roots have established, which usually takes several weeks. After rooting, the new Pink plant can be transplanted to a permanent location in the garden or a pot.