Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Maiden pink.
Dianthus deltoides
Pronounced dy-AN-thus del-TOY-deez
Also known as Maiden Pink, Meadow Pink, Pink Maiden
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The maiden pink is a charming, low growing perennial that forms a dense mat of evergreen foliage. It produces a carpet of small, vibrant flowers that brighten up rock gardens and borders in late spring. It is a hardy plant that loves the sun and handles cooler climates quite well.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Light
- Full sun
- Indoor light
- Direct sun
- Water
- Every 5 to 10 days
- Mature size
- 6 to 10 inches tall
- Growth rate
- Medium
Care
Plant this beauty in well draining soil to keep the roots happy. Watch for yellowing leaves which can signal that the soil is staying too wet for too long. Deadheading spent blooms will encourage a second flush of flowers later in the season.
- Watering
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer once during the spring growth spurt.
- Pruning
- Trim back the foliage after the first bloom to maintain a tidy shape.
- Repotting
- Repot only if the plant becomes root bound or if you need to divide the clump.
- Soil
- Well draining, sandy or rocky soil
- Soil pH
- Neutral to slightly alkaline
Safety
- Pets
- Like its relative the carnation, this plant is considered mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Eating it may cause mild stomach upset, and contact may cause mild skin irritation.
How to identify it
- Small, five petaled flowers
- Deep pink or white petals
- Narrow, dark green leaves
- Low growing, mat forming habit
Problems to watch for
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Science
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Genus
- Dianthus
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Also in
Keep your maiden pink growing
This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.
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This guide was generated with AI on and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.