Dianthus Star™ Single 'Neon Star'

Dianthus Star™ Single 'Neon Star': Fragrant Little Stars Turned Up to Neon

'Neon Star' glows like the sign outside a roadside diner at midnight. Intense magenta-pink flowers float over a low, grassy grey-green cushion, with a little clove scent for anybody who leans in. OPEN LATE. NO VACANCY FOR DEER.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Dianthus hybrid
• Common Name: Pinks
• Series: Star™ Single, from Whetman Pinks
• Height: 15–20 cm (6–8 in)
• Spread: 20–30 cm (8–12 in)
• Flowers: Single, intense magenta-pink flowers about 3.5 cm (1.5 in) across, with a light clove scent
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer, with repeat flowers into early fall when deadheaded (May to September)
• Foliage: Narrow, grey-green, evergreen leaves in a low, grassy cushion
• Features: Fragrant
• Plant Patent: USPP 14,549 / Can PBR 2,751

Where to Plant: Put it where you'll walk past it: the front edge of a border, along a path, between paving stones or in a rock garden. It's small enough for a trough or a sunny container. It handles a hot strip by the driveway better than many perennials, as long as the soil drains.

Companion Plants: Let Thymus pseudolanuginosus creep between the pinks, a 2 to 5 cm mat with pink flowers in June and July. Just behind, Salvia 'Blue Hill' sends up blue spikes from June into September, a crisp contrast to magenta. Muhlenbergia Undaunted® adds a fine-textured grass at 40 to 75 cm that blooms in September and October, extending the show into fall. All three like full sun and a well-drained spot.

Plant Care: Plant it in full sun in lean, well-drained soil. Neutral to alkaline soil is ideal. Heavy clay is the real enemy, because pinks rot in soggy winter ground. Work in grit or plant on a slight mound if your soil holds water. Water through the first season, then only in long dry spells. Skip the rich compost and heavy fertilizer. Deadhead or shear lightly after the first flush to keep the flowers coming. Leave the evergreen foliage alone over winter and tidy any brown bits in spring. Divide or replace clumps every few years if the centre opens up.

History: 'Neon Star' was bred by John Whetman at his family's nursery in Dawlish, Devon, in 1996, with Dianthus 'Brehemen' as its seed parent. Walters Gardens later used 'Neon Star' as a parent in breeding the Paint the Town pinks.

Final Thoughts: Deadhead it and the lights stay on. PLUG IT INTO A SUNNY SPOT AND FORGET THE ELECTRIC BILL.