Garden Pinks (Dianthus 'Rainbow Loveliness') is a fragrant perennial carnation that brings color and scent to gardens in hardiness zones 3, 8. These loosely-tufted herbaceous plants produce showy, often double flowers on stiff stems clothed in narrow, gray-green foliage, reaching 12, 18 inches tall and wide. Blooming from May through June, Garden Pinks thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, requiring only moderate water and low maintenance once established. Descended from crosses between three wild dianthus species, D. caryophyllus, D. gratianopolitanus, and D. plumarius, this variety represents generations of breeding that has produced thousands of carnation cultivars for both garden and cut-flower use.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-8
18in H x 18in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Garden Pinks deliver fragrant, showy double flowers on compact, tufted plants that deer won't touch. These perennials are remarkably tough in colder climates, thriving from zone 3, and they bloom reliably from May to June with minimal fussing once their soil drains well. The gray-green foliage adds texture even when flowers aren't present, and deadheading encourages repeat blooms throughout the season.
Garden Pinks are grown primarily as ornamental flowers for garden beds and borders. Their fragrant, showy blooms and deer resistance make them valued in landscape design. The flowers are excellent for cutting and bringing indoors, where their scent fills a room. Many gardeners also plant them as edging plants, where their compact mounding habit and continuous color from May through June create defined borders.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming throughout the May to June season and beyond.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Dianthus carnations are among the most hybridized ornamental flowers in cultivation. Modern varieties like Garden Pinks descend from intensive breeding programs that crossed three foundational species: D. caryophyllus (the classic carnation), D. gratianopolitanus (cheddar pink), and D. plumarius (cottage pink). Over centuries, breeders developed thousands of cultivars, initially for both garden display and commercial cut-flower production under glass. The shift from wild species to these sophisticated hybrids reflects the long human love affair with pinks, flowers valued equally for their fragrance, form, and garden presence.”