Pink (Dianthus 'Paint The Town Red')
Vibrant Dianthus 'Paint The Town Red' provides showy, fragrant magenta-red blooms in your low-maintenance border. Hardy in zones 4-9.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ is a cherished herbaceous perennial, commonly known as Pink, valued for its dense mat of blue-green foliage topped by a dazzling flush of color. This hybrid selection offers fragrant, single blooms in a striking magenta-red shade, making it indispensable for adding rich color near the front of borders. Growing quickly to under a foot tall, this Pink forms an attractive, spreading mound perfect for foreground interest throughout the early summer months. Gardeners appreciate Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ for its relatively low maintenance requirements coupled with high visual impact.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Caryophyllaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.5-0.75 ft
- Spread: 1.25-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Magenta-red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
These Dianthus thrive when planted in full sun, as adequate light is crucial for producing abundant flowers. Aim for average, evenly moist, well-drained soils, though they perform best in organically rich, gritty loams that lean toward neutral or slightly alkaline pH. While good drainage is essential to prevent root issues, incorporating leaf mold helps retain necessary moisture, especially crucial during hot summer spells.
Water needs are medium; ensure consistent moisture, particularly when establishing the plant. Maintenance for Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ is generally low. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage additional, prolonged blooming into the early fall. A light shearing after the main flush of bloom can tidy the appearance and stimulate a second wave of magenta-red flowers.
Landscape Uses
Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ excels when used near the edge of a garden setting where its low profile and vibrant color can be easily appreciated. Its mat-forming habit makes it excellent for border fronts, edgings, or softening the harsh lines of pathways and hardscaping. Consider planting massed groups to achieve an attractive ground cover effect in rock gardens. This fragrant Pink is also a superb choice for dedicated fragrance gardens or when used in containers where its fine texture contrasts beautifully with coarser foliage plants.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Perennial dianthus, commonly called carnations or pinks, are loosely-tufted, herbaceous perennials that features fragrant, often double flowers on stiff stems clad with narrow, linear, gray-green leaves. The common name of pink for plants in the genus Dianthus is in probable reference to the fringed flower petal margins (they appear to have been cut with pinking shears) and not to flower color. ‘Paint The Town Red’ is a hybrid selection of pink that features 0.75-1” wide, fragrant, magenta-red, single blooms with serrated petal margins, presenting a carpet of color in early summer.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
Carnations like Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ are susceptible to several fungal diseases, including rust, botrytis, and powdery mildew, particularly when humidity is high or air circulation is poor. Always ensure sharp drainage to mitigate the risk of water-related pathogens. Insect pests such as aphids and scale can occasionally be an issue, though they are generally much less problematic when the plant is grown outdoors in a garden setting compared to greenhouse cultivation. Good cultural practices, such as proper spacing and avoiding overhead watering, are your best defense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Pink suitable for?
This variety of Pink, Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’, is hardy across USDA Zones 4-9, offering excellent adaptability in many regions.
How large does Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ grow?
Mature plants generally reach a height between 0.5 to 0.75 feet tall, spreading out to cover an area between 1.25 to 1.5 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ need?
For the best flowering performance, this Dianthus requires full sun, though it appreciates cooler summer temperatures accompanying those sunny conditions.
When does Pink bloom?
Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ typically presents its striking magenta-red blooms from May through June, with the possibility of reblooming later in the season if maintained well.
Conclusion
Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ offers outstanding value with its low maintenance needs, beautiful blue-green foliage, and bursts of fragrant, magenta-red color. If you are looking to add durable, colorful texture to your borders or rock gardens, this Pink hybrid is an excellent choice. Confirm your garden falls within USDA zones 4 through 9 and plant in a sunny, well-drained spot to enjoy its reliable summer beauty.
Companion Planting
When planning beds around your Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’, look for plants that share a preference for full sun and slightly alkaline to neutral soil. Low-growing perennial herbs like Thyme or Creeping Sedum pair wonderfully, echoing the mat-forming habit of the Pink. Avoid heavy feeders or plants that spread aggressively, as Dianthus prefers not to compete fiercely for resources or moisture in the root zone.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring cleanup involves removing any old, dead foliage that persisted over winter to allow fresh growth of the blue-green leaves to emerge strongly. As summer begins, focus on deadheading the spent magenta-red flowers of the Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Red’ to encourage residual blooming. In late summer or early fall, a light shearing after the primary flush can tidy the plant and promote more late-season color, preparing the low-maintenance Pink for winter dormancy.
