Maiden Pink Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' (p)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool', commonly known as pinks, is a charming perennial plant known for its striking flowers and pleasant fragrance. The blooms exhibit a combination of soft pink shades, often with a unique pattern of darker and lighter zones, giving a marbled or laced appearance. The petals are typically fringed or serrated, adding to their intricate beauty. The flowers cluster at the top of sturdy stems, creating a delightful bouquet that rises above the foliage. The foliage of Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' consists of narrow, green to blue-green leaves. These leaves form a dense, mounding tuft or cushion at the base of the plant, providing a lush backdrop for the showy flowers. Sometimes the evergreen leaves exhibit a greyish tint, which can accentuate the vibrancy of the flowers. The overall appearance of this plant exudes a traditional cottage garden charm and is valued for its extended blooming period, which adds long-lasting color to any garden setting.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae
- Synonyms
  Pink, Garden Pink, Cheddar Pink
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool', commonly known as Garden Pink, is generally not considered toxic to humans. However, if ingested in large quantities, it may cause mild gastrointestinal upset such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Always exercise caution and avoid consuming parts of ornamental plants unless they are known to be edible.
- To pets
  Garden Pink is not known to be toxic to pets. It is unlikely to cause any serious symptoms if consumed by pets, such as dogs or cats, in small amounts. However, ingestion of plant material may lead to mild gastrointestinal upset including vomiting or diarrhea in some pets. Always monitor your pets around plants and contact a veterinarian if you observe any adverse reactions.
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
  5
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Appeal: Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' is known for its beautiful, ruffled pink flowers and evergreen foliage that add aesthetic value to gardens and landscapes.
- Attracts Pollinators: The fragrant flowers of the Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' attract essential pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are important for pollination in the garden.
- Drought Tolerance: The plant is relatively drought-tolerant once established, making it a good choice for areas with water restrictions or low rainfall.
- Low Maintenance: Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' has minimal care requirements, needing only occasional watering, deadheading, and pruning to maintain its shape.
- Long Blooming Season: It offers a prolonged blooming period from spring to early fall, providing a long season of color and interest in the garden.
- Cold Hardy: The plant is capable of withstanding cooler temperatures, making it suitable for gardens in regions with cold climates.
- Deer Resistance: Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' is generally resistant to deer, which makes it an excellent choice for gardens in areas where deer browsing is a problem.
- Versatility: It can be used in various garden settings, including borders, rockeries, and containers, making it a versatile option for different garden designs.
- Ground Cover: Its spreading habit allows it to serve as an effective ground cover, suppressing weeds and covering bare spots in the garden.
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
- Cut Flowers: The blooms of the Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' can be used in floral arrangements and bouquets due to their striking color and long vase life.
- Edible Petals: The petals can be used in salads or as a garnish for their mild spicy flavor, adding a unique touch to culinary dishes.
- Perfumery: The essential oils derived from the flowers can be utilized in making perfumes and scented products due to their distinctive clove-like fragrance.
- Textile Dyeing: The petals of the plant, rich in pigment, can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics.
- Art and Craft: Dried flowers of the Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' can be used in potpourri or incorporated into paper making for added texture and color.
- Garden Borders: The plant can be used for creating colorful garden edges and walkway borders.
- Companion Planting: When planted along with vegetables, it can help deter certain types of insects and pests with its strong scent.
- Memory Enhancement: While not medically tested, gardening with plants like Dianthus has been rumored to help improve memory and cognitive function through sensory stimulation.
- Special Occasions: The flowers can be floated in water bowls or fountains during events for decorative purposes.
- Photography Subjects: Dianthus flowers offer vibrant subject matter for photographers looking to capture the intricate details of garden flora.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Dianthus, commonly known as Pinks or Carnations, is not specifically used in traditional Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Carnation is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Dignity: Dianthus flowers are often associated with dignity due to their elegant and stately form.
- Love: The name "dianthus" comes from Greek words "dios" (god) and "anthos" (flower), often translated as "the flowers of the gods," thus signifying divine love.
- Passion: The rich color and spicy fragrance of many Dianthus varieties, such as 'Cranmere Pool', evoke feelings of passion.
- Pure Affection: The presence of Dianthus in a bouquet can symbolize pure and platonic love.
- Admiration: Gifting these flowers can express admiration for someone's grace or uniqueness.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
For the Pink or Carnation (Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool'), it's important to maintain moist soil without overwatering. They should be watered deeply to encourage root growth, but the frequency depends on weather conditions and soil type. Generally, watering once or twice a week with about 1 inch of water should suffice, but during hot, dry periods, additional watering may be necessary. Overhead watering should be avoided to prevent disease; focus water at the base of the plants. Ensure proper drainage as standing water can lead to root rot.
Light
Pinks (Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool') thrive in full sun, meaning they require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. They perform best when placed in a location that receives morning sunlight and possibly light afternoon shade in very hot climates. Avoid heavily shaded areas as it can lead to poor flowering and increased susceptibility to disease.
Temperature
Pink or Carnation (Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool') prefers cooler climates and can generally tolerate temperatures down to about 40°F. They can survive brief periods of colder weather, but prolonged exposure below this can be damaging. Ideally, daytime temperatures for these plants should be between 60°F and 70°F, which promotes the best growth and flowering.
Pruning
Prune Pinks (Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool') to remove dead or fading flowers, which encourages further blooming, and to maintain the plant's shape. Annual pruning in early spring can help promote vigorous growth. Additionally, cut back the foliage by one-third after the first bloom period to refresh the plant and encourage a second round of blooms in the same season.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Carnations prefer well-draining, loamy soil with some organic content. An ideal soil mix would consist of three parts loam, one part sand, and one part peat or compost to provide nutrients. The recommended soil pH for Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' is slightly alkaline, between 6.7 to 7.3.
Repotting
Carnations should be repotted every 1-2 years to refresh the soil, or when the plant outgrows its current pot. Ensure proper drainage in the new pot and use fresh soil mix as described for best results.
Humidity & Misting
Carnations thrive in moderate humidity conditions. They do not require high humidity levels, and average room humidity is typically sufficient for Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool'.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright light, water when soil feels dry.
- Outdoor
  Full sun, well-drained soil, avoid water-logging.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA.
Life cycle
Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool', also known as Pink, begins its life cycle when its seeds germinate in spring after the last frost, provided they are sown in well-draining soil with plenty of sunlight. Seedlings soon emerge and grow into vegetative plants, establishing a rosette of blue-green foliage from which flower stems will later emerge. As the plants mature through late spring and into early summer, they develop flower buds on tall stems that open into fragrant, fringed pink blossoms with a distinctive eye-catching pattern, usually blooming from late spring to midsummer. After pollination, often by bees and butterflies, the flowers produce small capsules of seeds that mature by late summer. If conditions are favorable and the plant does not experience severe winter conditions, it may act as a short-lived perennial, regenerating the following spring; otherwise, it behaves as an annual and completes its life cycle within one growing season. Gardeners can also propagate Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool' by cuttings taken in late spring or by division of established clumps to maintain or increase their stock of the plant.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Dianthus 'Cranmere Pool', commonly known as Pinks, is often propagated by softwood cuttings during late spring through early summer when the plant is actively growing. The most popular method of propagation for Pinks is taking stem cuttings about 3 to 5 inches (approximately 7.5 to 12.5 centimeters) long. These cuttings should be snipped just below a node, where there's a concentration of growth hormones. The lower leaves are stripped, and the cut end is dipped in a rooting hormone before being inserted into a well-draining soil mix or perlite. It's important to maintain a humid environment for the cuttings, often by covering them with a plastic bag or placing them in a propagator. The cuttings should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent excessive heat build-up. Roots usually develop within two to four weeks, after which the new plants can be potted on and eventually moved to their final location in the garden.