Pink Gran's Favourite

Dianthus Gran's Favourite

If there's one smell that can take you back in time to your grandparents' garden, then it is this delightful -and well-named -Dianthus Gran's Favourite. Also known as pinks, these mat-forming herbaceous perennials produce beautiful clove-scented flowers with a compact bushy habit. One of the longest-flowering pinks, it is a 'laced' variety, which means the flowers are made up of two colours - ruffled white petals with a splotch of deep purple-red in the centre and edge. That is why Gran's Favourite is part of our collection of pinks for sale.

It was introduced by Mrs D. Underwood of Colchester, in 1966, and has gone on to win an RHS AGM award, so you can be sure of great performer in your garden.

Great In Your Garden...

Dianthus Gran's Favourite is vigorous and easy to grow and very hardy. It is semi-evergreen, so it can lose some of leaves in winter. In colder regions or exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but new growth will appear again in spring.

As it is so compact, reaching only 40cm tall, it is best planted towards the front of a border as edging or in a rock garden. Its compact habit means it looks wonderful in a pot or for a real Swiss feel, fill troughs on balconies with pinks and let them trail over the sides.

Pinks make wonderful cut flowers for small vases or as part of a larger arrangement. With such a long and prolific flowering period, there will be plenty of blooms to use in posies.

Features

• Colour: White and reddish-purple.
• Flowering: June to October.
• Foliage: Blue-green divided leaves.
• Height: 40cm.
• Spread: 30cm.
• Spacing: 30cm.
• Position: Sun, tolerates light shade.
• Soil: Loam, chalk, sandy and well-drained soil.
• Awards: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.

Did You Know...

The petals are edible and taste like cloves. Add them to cakes for decoration or flavouring - also suitable for soups, salads and sauces.