Dianthus sp. ‘firewitch’. http://kickapoocreeknursery.com

June is a most fragrant month, so I thought I would start with one of my most beloved fragrant flowers. Dianthus, also known as pinks, give us the wonderful Carnations ( D. caryophyllus). They also give many wonderful garden pinks, including Sweet William, all with the same wonderful, warm, clove-like fragrance.  Pinks are mostly perennials; growing to be up to two feet tall, but usually under this, with small, silvery leaves, pink to mauve flowers, with five frilly petals, and distinct stamens. There are a great many crosses in this genera, but they do well in well-drained and rocky soils with full sun.

The best known varieties are D. barbatus, D. caryphyllus, D. gratianopolitanus. D. monspessulanus, and D. superbus.

Sweet Williams are known as D. barbatus. These are popular garden pinks, but not as fragrant as the others. These pinks have nice, frilled edges, and come in a variety of colors (red to white and every shade in between.) They are one of the few pinks that can be deadheaded to repeat flower display. They are a bit hardier in the garden than the others, and come in several wonderful shades of color.

D. barbatus. Cereales Killer. Wikimedia Commons.

D. caryophyllus is the species that gives us the florists’ carnation. These plants are thought to be native to the Mediterranean region but are grown in hothouses and gardens the world over. Carnations are a quite typical bouquet filler, and have far too many semblances to name here. Most have all but lost their fragrance sadly, but are still the most popular of the group.

D. gratianopolitanus. Ghislain118. Wikimedia Commons.

Cheddar pinks, D. gratianopolitanus, are easily the most fragrant of the bunch. They have the typical clove-pink smell, but are most free with it in the garden I have found, particularly at evening. While not as impressive in flower, they certainly make up with the scent! Many wonderful crosses and cultivars are available including ‘firewitch’. These pinks more than all other cannot stand wet feet, preferring alpine conditions above all others.

D. monspessulanus are the rarest of crosses, but also the frilliest petals. They are also generous with their scent.

Lastly, many hybrids are available of D. superbus. These feature larger leaves, flowers, and larger growth than others of the family. They are almost as fragrant as D. gratianopolitanus, and thrive in warmer climates to boot! I remember being a part of the All-American seed trials at the University of Kentucky testing some of these cultivars out. The only complaint to be had was their capacity to over-seed in the garden! The hybrids have not caught on quite yet but are surely to be more popular in the future!

The Sweet Williams are most accustomed to gardens, but any will thrive in rocky gardens, being the first among many strange rock garden collection flowers of choice.