The Dianthus genus includes over 27,000 registered cultivar names. They are grown as annuals, biennials and evergreen perennials.
Flowers are 5-parted, fragrant, pink-lilac, pink-purple or white, often with picotee margins. The common name of 'pinks' does not refer to the color, but to the fringed or frilly edging which looks like it was trimmed with 'pinking shears'.
Dianthus should be planted in full sun but can tolerate some shade. Well-drained soil and good air circulation are necessary to avoid root rot and fungal diseases. Dianthus will grow in different soil types, preferring neutral to slightly alkaline soil, but can tolerate some acidity.
The petals of the Dianthus flowers are edible when grown organically, and often crystallized with sugar and used for decorating cakes. However, the leaves can cause mild gastrointestinal distress if eaten and mild dermatitis if touched,
