Honey bees get nectar from this plant.
'Firewitch' is a great Dianthus to grow, but you need to know what it likes. It likes a lean and well drained soil. I always add all purpose sand that I get at Lowe's (inside store) to the planting hole and top it with small gravel for the mulch. I used to use small pea gravel, which was fine, but now I started using small crushed limestone gravel. I also add some gypsum into the hole to help with the drainage and add a little garden lime, since it's likes an alkaline soil.
These bloom most heavily in spring to early summer. If sheared back after the first bloom they do put out an occasional flower in summer. They spread to form a thick mat, which remains a healthy green color through the hot summer weather.
I grew these beauties for the 1st time this summer from seeds I got in last Nov.'s seed swaps. They got about 12 in. tall and hung over the edge of a large pot I was also growing a taller plant of Datura 'Ballerina Yellow' in. They grew well together in morning sun and filtered sun through a tree the 2nd half the day. They are a wispy delicate flower like nothing I've grown before. I hope they return next spring as I let seeds fall.
Beauty of flower revealed by a close up inspection; Half inch wide flowers have rose colored petals w/ white speckles and toothed margins.
Information from Chocolate Flower Farm seeds:
Dianthus barbatus 'Heart Attack' was introduced by Plant Delights Nursery in 2001. PDN is located in North Carolina. It is not native to the U.S.
I used to grow 'Bath's Pink', but dug it up and got rid of it, because it spread more than I wanted it to. I was growing Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch' at the same time and it didn't spread nearly as much as 'Bath's Pink' did. Both were in 4" pots when I planted them the same year. I can't remember how much space 'Bath's Pink' took up at this time, but I remember it did and why I got rid of it. I didn't and don't have the space for it in my gardens.
Ohio's state flower.
Closest to blue yet. Has returned for years.
