Dianthus Fruit Punch® 'Whipped Cream'

Dianthus Fruit Punch® 'Whipped Cream': Sweet-Scented White on Evergreen Cushions

Pure white, sweet-smelling flowers sit on blue-green mounds like somebody piped them straight from the bag. 'Whipped Cream' is the dessert you can have every night and NEVER FEEL GUILTY ABOUT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Dianthus hybrid
• Common Name: Pinks
• Series: Fruit Punch®, a Proven Winners® perennial
• Height: 20–25 cm (8–10 in)
• Spread: 30–36 cm (12–14 in)
• Flowers: Pure white and fragrant, larger than most garden pinks
• Bloom Time: Early summer (June to July), with some rebloom later in the season
• Foliage: Blue-green and evergreen, forming a tidy mound
• Features: Fragrant, heat and salt tolerant
• Plant Patent: USPP 37,214 / Can PBRAF

Where to Plant: Put it where you'll walk past it: the front of a sunny border, the edge of a path, a rock garden or a container by the door. It tolerates salt, so it suits driveway and sidewalk edges where winter de-icer lands. The blooms also make short, sweet cut flowers.

Companion Plants: Place Clematis 'Stand by Me' behind these white pinks, where its blue bell flowers on 86 to 97 cm stems bloom from June to August. Alchemilla mollis softens the edge with frothy yellow flowers from June to August. For later colour, Echinacea 'Coral Craze' adds coral coneflowers from July to September. White, blue and coral make a fresh, easy mix in sun or part sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun, or at least four to six hours of direct sun, in loose, well-drained soil. Pinks like neutral to slightly alkaline conditions and hate wet feet, so heavy clay should be amended with grit or compost, or skipped in favour of a raised spot or container. Water regularly until it's established, then only during long dry spells. Shear off the spent flowers after the main flush to tidy the mound and encourage more blooms. Leave the evergreen foliage in place over winter and trim out any tired bits in spring. Divide every few years if the centre starts to thin.

History: The genus name Dianthus comes from Greek and is usually translated as "divine flower." The colour pink is thought to have borrowed its name from these frilly flowers, which gardeners have grown for their clove-like scent for centuries.

Final Thoughts: Pair it with the hot pinks and let it cool everybody down. EVERY BORDER NEEDS A DOLLOP ON TOP.