Maiden Pink Micro Chips Seeds - Dianthus deltoides

Dianthus deltoides 'Micro Chips' forms a small, evergreen mound covered with abundant blooms from May to August. The tiny single flowers have fringed petals, ranging in colour from white to various shades of pink around an intense red eye. This fast-growing perennial combines sturdiness and frugality whilst producing masses of flowers. It is resistant to drought and tolerant of poor soil, making it ideal for growing in rock gardens and above low retaining walls. When sown early enough, it flowers in its first year. Grow in full sun, in well-drained soil.

Dianthus deltoides or Maiden Pink belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is native to Europe and temperate Asia where it grows on dry slopes, moorlands, forest margins and poor, stony meadows. It is fast-growing, reaching a mature height of about 20 cm (in full bloom) for a spread of 20 cm or more. It forms a small, spreading mound of linear, bright green evergreen leaves, tightly gathered on slender stems. Flowering starts in May and June and lasts until August if the soil is not too dry. The plant is smothered with small white, pink or mauve scented flowers with fringed petals, decorated with a bright pink eye.

Maiden Pinks are 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. Dianthus deltoides goes very well alpine plants such as alyssums, saponaria, Phlox subulata or Phlox douglasii, rock cress, candytuft and helianthemums.