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Inchmery, 18th century

The colorful part of garden history is perfumed with the frilly flowers of Dianthus, which have been treasured by gardeners for centuries. Pink is the well-known common name for most of the cheerful spring- and summer-flowering plants in this genus, which has more than 300 species and thousands of hybrids. Some of the most popular varieties are exotically clove-scented. There are cottage pinks, to name a few, all of them descended from different species, each with its own charms. Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) used to be known as clove gillyflowers. Sweet William, in the group known as clusterhead pinks, is also a member of the Dianthus family. Dianthus are perennial, annual, or biennial plants with feathery silver-green or blue-gray foliage usually forming a tight mound or mat. Flowers rise from 2 inches up to 2 feet above the leaves, sometimes leaning a little lazily as they stretch toward the sun.

Pink Mrs. Sinkins, 1860s

The double flowers of some pinks, such as "Mrs. Sinkins," an intoxicatingly fragrant pink produced in the 1860s, may have up to 40 petals, so many that they split their calyxes, the green cups that hold them.

Ursula Le Grove, 17th century

Pinks were widely popular in colonial America. Jefferson mentioned pinks repeatedly in his garden diaries. He grew sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), a biennial sometimes called bunch pink. He also had China pinks, which are grown as annuals. Both can be grown from seed and have been available from American nurseries since the 18th century.

Gran's Favorite, 1966

Perennial Dianthus are short-lived -- sometimes lasting only three or four years in the garden -- and must be renewed by propagating new plants from cuttings. Growing lots of new plants from cuttings every so often also helps ensure replacements for any Dianthus nibbled by rabbits, which love the tender leaves. Although North American gardeners still cannot find the great number of antique Dianthus varieties available to English gardeners, the selection of heirloom pinks available here is growing. Specialty nurseries offer dozens of varieties. Modern pinks (varieties introduced after 1920) can be just as pretty.

Rose de Mai, 1820

The old "Rose de Mai," a semidouble pink with fragrant lilac flowers, introduced about 1820, is a favorite. It is usually one of the first varieties to bloom and is especially easy to propagate.

London Lovely, 1944

In the garden
Dianthus are generally hardy in Zones 3 to 8. Though not hard to grow, they do have a few requirements:

Well-drained soil is the secret to long life for Dianthus.
Fertilize plants in spring with organic fertilizer, scratching it lightly into the soil with an old table fork. Organic mulch may cause plants to rot, but rock mulch and pea gravel are fine.
Plant pinks in sunny spots at the edge of a flower bed or along a path or rock wall.
Small pots are ideal for all kinds of Dianthus. Four- or 6-inch pots are just right.
Deadhead spent flowers to promote a longer season of bloom in cooler climates.