Dianthus barbatus 'Scarlet'

Dianthus barbatus ‘Scarlet’ is a biennial or short-lived, semi-evergreen perennial grown for its dense, flat-topped heads of rich scarlet flowers in early summer, rising on upright stems above narrow green foliage. The clove-like fragrance and neat habit make it excellent for cutting and for the front of sunny borders and cottage-style plantings. In Irish gardens it does best in full sun and fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (including chalk); deadhead to prolong flowering. Expect around 45–60cm in height and 30–45cm spread, and dependable hardiness outdoors.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Full sun

Rate of Growth: Average

Soil: Fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline (incl. chalk); avoid waterlogging

Hardiness: Fully hardy in Ireland

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Plant at a Glance