Dianthus carthusianorum
Carthusian pinks, also known as clusterhead pinks, are one of the longest blooming flowers in my garden. These perennials are native to Europe and thrive in dry, rocky soil. Like other types of pinks (dianthus), they attract many bees and butterflies and are maintenance-free once established. The bright pink flowers float on grass-like stems from June to September.
To plant, cover seeds just barely with soil in the garden, or winter sow and transplant seedlings in the spring. I generally start these flowers indoors but they are pretty easy to grow with any method.
Carthusian pinks do best in full sun and will bloom most profusely in sunny locations, but will still put out flowers in a spot that gets more shade. I accidentally planted one under a young tree that started shading it quite a bit as it grew: while it doesn’t bloom as much as those in full sun, it still flowers and adds some vibrant color where other plants wouldn’t thrive.
| Hardiness Zone | 5-9 |
| Height | 24-36” |
| Width | 10-12” |
| Type | Perennial |
| Pests | Deer and rabbit resistant* |
| Sun requirements | Full sun to part sun |
*Sources claim that these plants are rabbit resistant. The voracious rabbits in my area nibble these down quite a bit when they’re seedlings, so I would recommend protecting baby plants with chicken wire or netting until they’re established.