Dianthus Rockin'™ Pink Magic

Dianthus Rockin'™ Pink Magic: Pink Blooms That Shift as They Age

This sweet William does a costume change mid-show. Fringed flowers open white, slide through pale pink and finish in bright pink and mauve, all in the same cluster, like it can't decide what to wear to the party. THE MAGIC TRICK IS REAL.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Dianthus × barbatus interspecific hybrid
• Common Name: Sweet William
• Series: Rockin'™, from PanAmerican Seed (cultivar code PAS1350217)
• Height: 45–60 cm (18–24 in)
• Spread: 25–30 cm (10–12 in)
• Flowers: Clusters of fringed flowers that open white and age through pale pink to bright pink and mauve, with a light scent
• Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall, with more flowers when deadheaded (June to September)
• Foliage: Narrow, deep green leaves in a dense clump
• Features: Long bloom season, colour-changing flowers, good cut flower, lightly fragrant

Where to Plant: Group it in the middle of a sunny border or a cutting garden, where the mix of shades reads as one soft pink cloud. It's also good in large containers. Choose a spot with good drainage, since wet clay in spring is hard on it.

Companion Plants: Iris 'Caesar's Brother' brings violet flowers and upright, grassy leaves at 80 to 100 cm in May and June. Leucanthemum 'Starburst' adds big white daisies from June to August, a clean partner for pink sweet william. Later, Eupatorium 'Chocolate' adds white flowers from August to October. Plant them in sun or part sun for an easy cottage border.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun to part sun, in well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. Full sun gives the strongest colour shift and the most flowers. Add grit or compost to heavy clay, or plant on a slight rise. Water regularly in the first season and during dry spells after that. Deadhead faded clusters to keep it blooming. Tidy and cut back in early spring. Sweet William tends to be short-lived, so refresh the planting every few years.

History: Sweet William, Dianthus barbatus, is native to the mountains of southern Europe and is traditionally a biennial. PanAmerican Seed bred the Rockin'™ series as interspecific hybrids that bloom in their first year and come back as perennials.

Final Thoughts: Cut a handful for the kitchen table and watch guests try to count how many plants you bought. THE ANSWER IS ONE. SMUG MODE ACTIVATED.