Gardening: Pretty in pinks

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Close-up photos © 2019 Pat Rubin. Garden photo by Shutterstock.

The spiky leaves of my old-fashioned cottage pinks always look a little dull after winter's rainy weather. But come early summer, the sun coaxes a lush, silvery-blue color from the foliage. The months of May and June see these mat-forming plants sending up dozens of slender stems topped with clove-scented blossoms. In shades of pink and white, the flowers fill the garden with their sweet scent and attract several species of butterflies.

A row of cottage pinks lines one side of the walkway to my back gate. I planted them purposefully, knowing they would fill the garden with their spicy fragrance when in bloom. I cut flowers for the house and for friends, and still have plenty to leave in the garden.

Cottage pinks are part of the genus Dianthus, and are related to Sweet Williams and carnations. They are hardy groundcover plants that demand a place at the front of the border. The silvery foliage can soften plantings of perennials or roses. Some varieties form tight little cushions of green or silver-blue foliage. Many have been grown in cottage gardens in England for decades, even centuries. In fact, some varieties still available today date back to the 1700s. The best of the lot for foliage and flowers are the old-fashioned pinks called Rose de Mai, Inchmery and Mrs. Sinkins. But there are plenty of newer varieties that are equally beautiful and produce copious numbers of scented flowers. Pinball Wizard, Rosy Cheeks and Early Bird Fizzy are a few pinks that grace my garden.

Cottage pinks are readily available at local nurseries. But don't wait until June to look for them. The nurseries will have them blooming in March and April. Once in the garden, they will return to a May/June bloom period. If you want the old-fashioned types, an online search will yield several mail order sources, including Digging Dog Nursery and Annie's Annuals and Perennials, both in Northern California (you can also visit these nurseries, but check for hours).

Like many cottage garden plants, cottage pinks thrive on neglect. The key to success is surprisingly simple: sunshine, good drainage and not too much water. To keep them looking tidy, trim the flower stalks after bloom finishes. Most importantly of all, keep them near the front of the border, since you want to be able to enjoy their fragrance.

Pat Rubin