China Pink Chianti Seeds - Dianthus chinensis

China Pink 'Chianti' is a highly unusual variety that features bicoloured double blooms. Each petal is deep, velvety purple to almost black, contrasting with bright white fringed edges. China pinks are tender perennials, often treated as annuals in colder climates. When sown indoors in early spring, they offer a long-lasting display all summer long. Ideal for sunny borders or containers!

Dianthus 'Chianti' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is selected from Dianthus chinensis (China Pink), a species primarily native to China where it occurs naturally in meadows and steppes, sandy dunes, forest margins and riverbanks. This fast-growing, short-lived perennial reaches a mature height of about 20 cm (in full bloom) for a spread of 30 cm or more. It forms a small, spreading mound of linear, bright green to bluish green leaves, tightly gathered on slender stems. Flowering starts in June and lasts until September-October if the soil is not too dry. It features 3 cm wide, deeply fringed blooms with contrasting purplish black and white petals. They have a delicate, sweet and spicy scent.

Dianthus 'Chianti' is perfect for stony slopes or rock gardens where they happily spread out in the sunlight. They look very pretty over dry-stone walls and are useful for underplanting shrubs, in large pots, containers or troughs. Amend heavy or clay-based soils with gravel and coarse sand to improve drainage. China pinks go very well with alpine plants such as alyssums, saponaria, Phlox subulata or Phlox douglasii, rock cress, candytuft and helianthemums.