Carnation Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' (p)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' is characterized by its vibrant and showy flowers, which are a standout feature. The blooms are often frilly at the edges and display a vivid color palette, typically showcasing shades that can include pink, red, purple or white. Each flower usually exhibits a striking pattern, with a contrasting eye or uniquely marked petals that may be speckled or banded. The flowers exude a pleasant and spicy fragrance, which adds an olfactory dimension to their ornamental appeal. The foliage of Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' contributes to its overall attractiveness with slender, linear leaves that provide a lush backdrop for the flowers. The leaves are typically bluish-green to grayish-green and have a grass-like appearance that complements the brightly colored blooms. The plant forms a dense, tufted mound, presenting a tidy and compact appearance in the garden. Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' tends to have a prolonged flowering season, offering a long-lasting display of blooms that contribute to the garden's visual interest over an extended period. This makes it a popular choice for borders, rock gardens, and as an accent in mixed flower beds, where its cheerful blossoms and delightful scent can be enjoyed up close.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae
- Synonyms
  Carnation, Pink
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice'
Toxicity
- To humans
  The common name for Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' is Pink. Generally, Pinks are not considered toxic to humans. They are often used in gardens for their colorful blooms and are not known for having poisonous properties that would cause harm if touched or ingested. However, like with any plant, individual allergic reactions are possible.
- To pets
  The common name for Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' is Pink. Pinks are generally considered non-toxic to pets, such as cats and dogs. They are a popular choice for gardening due to their bright flowers and lack of toxicity. However, as with any non-edible plant, ingestion of large quantities could potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset in some pets due to the plant material itself, not because it contains any known toxic substances.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  0.5-1 feet (15-30 cm)
- Spread
  0.5-1 feet (15-30 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5-9
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' adds vibrant color and visual interest to gardens with its bright and attractive flowers.
- Fragrance: The flowers of Dianthus often have a pleasant scent that can add a layer of sensory enjoyment to a garden space.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, many Dianthus varieties, including 'Rhian's Choice', are fairly drought-tolerant, making them suitable for low-water gardens.
- Long Blooming Period: Dianthus plants, depending on the variety, can have a long flowering period, providing color from late spring into early fall.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers of Dianthus are known to attract bees and butterflies, which are beneficial for pollination in the garden.
- Low Maintenance: Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' generally requires minimal maintenance, making it suitable for gardeners of all levels.
- Compact Growth: With its compact growth habit, this plant is ideal for borders, rockeries, and containers where space might be limited.
- Versatility: Dianthus can be used in a variety of garden styles, including cottage gardens, perennial borders, and container arrangements.
- Cold Hardy: Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' can withstand cooler temperatures, making it a good choice for gardens in a range of climates.
- Edging Plants: Due to their tidy habit, Dianthus species can be effectively used as edging plants along paths or garden borders.
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
- Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice', commonly known as Carnation, can be used as a natural fabric dye, imparting subtle pink tones to textiles.
- The crushed petals of Carnations can serve as a colorant for homemade cosmetics such as blush or tinted lip balm.
- Carnation petals can be infused into oils or vinegars to impart their fragrance and color for culinary or aromatic uses.
- Dried Carnation blooms may be used in potpourri mixes, offering a decorative touch and a pleasant fragrance to a room.
- Carnations can be used in crafting, for example, to adorn handmade paper or in candle making to include as decorative elements.
- Fresh Carnation flowers can double as a natural pest repellent in gardens, where their strong scent may deter some insect pests.
- The color-rich petals of Carnations may be used as a pH indicator in science education, changing color in the presence of acids or bases.
- Pressed Carnation flowers can create beautiful and natural art, used in framed botanical displays or incorporated into jewelry.
- The essential oil of Carnations can be used in aromatherapy as a fragrance for stress relief and relaxation purposes.
- Carnations are often part of celebration garlands in cultural festivities, symbolizing love and distinction.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Carnation is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Carnation is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Love - Dianthus flowers are often associated with love and romantic devotion, possibly due to their historic use in floral bouquets and the enduring quality of their blooms.
- Boldness - The bright colors of the Dianthus can symbolize boldness and audacity, reflecting a vibrant and daring spirit.
- Purity - The delicate white petals that are sometimes featured in Dianthus varieties can represent purity and innocence.
- Fascination - Dianthus can be a symbol of fascination with the intricate patterns and variety of colors often sparking curiosity and interest.
- Distinguished Love - The longstanding cultivation and selective breeding of Dianthus, such as 'Rhian's Choice', signify a refined and sophisticated love that can stand the test of time.
- Divine Favor - The name "Dianthus" is derived from the Greek words ‘dios’, meaning god, and ‘anthos’, meaning flower, which can symbolize divine favor or a blessing from the gods.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Carnations require consistent moisture but do not like to be waterlogged. Water the plant deeply once a week, providing about 1 to 1.5 inches of water each time. If the weather is particularly hot or dry, check the soil moisture more frequently and be prepared to water twice a week. The goal is to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. It may be necessary to adjust the watering schedule based on rainfall and temperature changes.
Light
Carnations thrive in full sunlight, so finding a spot where they can receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily is ideal. They can tolerate some light shade, especially in the afternoon when the sun is harshest. Ensure the plant is placed in a location where it can bask in unfiltered morning sunlight for best growth and flowering.
Temperature
Carnations prefer a temperature range between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 50 to 60 degrees at night. They can endure minimum temperatures down to approximately 40 degrees without significant damage. However, the ideal growing conditions for carnations are within the moderate temperature range to encourage robust growth and flowering.
Pruning
Pruning carnations encourages bushier growth and more blooms. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote further blooming throughout the season. In early spring, trim back the plants by about one-third to help rejuvenate them and encourage new growth. It's also a good time to remove any dead or damaged stems to maintain plant health.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Carnations like well-draining, sandy loam soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH between 6.7 and 7.5. A mix of two parts garden soil, one part sand or perlite, and one part compost or well-rotted manure works well.
Repotting
Pinks, or Carnations, should be repotted every 1-2 years to replenish the soil and promote healthy growth.
Humidity & Misting
Carnations prefer moderate humidity and do well in typical household humidity levels; avoid overly humid environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and keep soil lightly moist.
- Outdoor
  Full sun, well-draining soil; deadhead for continuous blooms.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice', commonly known as Pinks, begins its life cycle with seed germination, often in early spring when temperatures are suitable. The seeds develop into seedlings, which gradually grow true leaves and stems, becoming juvenile plants. As they mature, these perennials form a dense mound of grayish-green foliage and, given adequate light and nutrients, will produce their characteristic fragrant, frilled flowers in late spring to early summer. After blooming, if the flowers are deadheaded, the plant may produce additional blooms in the season. In the absence of deadheading, the plant will set seeds, which may fall to the ground and potentially create new plants the following season. During winter, Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice' typically goes dormant, particularly in colder climates, but its evergreen foliage may persist, and it will regrow from its base the following spring.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The most popular method of propagation for the Dianthus 'Rhian's Choice', commonly known as Pinks, is by cuttings. This process is typically done in late spring to early summer. To propagate from cuttings, gardeners should select healthy, non-flowering stems and cut a 3-4 inch (approximately 7.5-10 cm) section. The lower leaves are removed and the cut end is dipped into rooting hormone before being placed in a well-draining potting mix. The cutting should then be kept moist and in a warm location with indirect sunlight until roots have developed, which usually takes a few weeks. After rooting, they can be transplanted into the garden or into individual pots.