Certain flowering plants are easily found in most nurseries and flower shops, i.e.impatiens, mums, zinnias, snapdragons, petunias.

Dianthus does not seem to be among the commonly seen flowers. I have had them in the past, mostly in red, pink or mixed colors.

They are perennials, but I find that they hardly come back the following years.

I planted two 'Raspberry Swirl' dianthus early this past summer.

6.7.10

The blooms are quite attractive -- with dark red circles around the white or pink centers and red borders -- above the pretty grayish-green foliage. The plants produce very few flowers, despite my deadheading the flowers and fertilizing the plants. Nevertheless, they continue to produce that few all through the summer ..

9.19.10

.. and now into fall.

10.13.10

Dianthus is in a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllacea (commonly called the pink or carnation family) which includes silene and rose campion. It is the native to Europe and Asia.

Dianthus came from Greek words dios (God) and anthos (flower).

Like carnations, dianthus can be used as cut flowers for floral arrangements.