Stuck on Dianthus

[Le Doazac]

I want to plant 2 heights of Dianthus in a S/W facing border. Does anyone know which varieties will go together the best and which have the longest flowering period?

[Two_Sheds]

Do you want carnations, pinks or Sweet Williams? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening...-Dianthus.html

I have pinks and SWs, they do really well in my alkaline free-draining soil

[nick the grief]

If your' growing out doors you need Pinks - Border carnations only flower once and Perpetuals won't like it out of doors.

If you want Pinks then do you just want garden decoration of do you want a few you can cut? If they're for cutting you'll need them with longer stems.

Two sheds is spot on (as always) Pinks/carnations etc need it free draining and like a bit of alkaline soil.

If you want some good all rounders then you can't go wrong with Doris & the numerous sports, , Letitia Wyatt ( & sports), Grans Favourite, Sam Barlow. If you don't mind paying a bit more than the garden centre prices then Oakwood Erin Mitchell is a beautiful white that flowers it's head off.

For suppliers I can recommend John Barrington at Newport Mills

There are some others on there that are good as well.

Sweet williams (same family) are good but are biennials so the plants don't last as long

[Le Doazac]

I don't want to cut the flowers - they're just for outdoor show in the border. As to the actual variety it's difficult for me to judge. The spec is Dianthus that are perennials and that will give the longest possible flowering period. We do have alkaline soil so from what Two sheds says I should be ok although it doesn't drain at all well.
I did look at these varieties: Dianthus 'Rose de Mai', 'Mrs. Simpkins' and 'Gratianopolitanus' - which seemed to give me a mix of front border carpet cover and height behind. Is that right or should I be looking at some of the others you suggest? Also I'm in France so can't take advantage of UK suppliers - are they easy to grow from seed? If not I'll find a supplier here.

[bramble]

I have the ordinary "pink" variety of dianthus. They are growing ovetr a low wall and must be in plasce about 10 years now. I dont have alkaline soil but they still do well and put out a lovely display of flowers every year about April or May time. I dont do anything to them other than trim them back when they have finished flowering.