Dianthus plumarius Desmond
Dianthus plumarius Desmond
Dianthus plumarius Desmond
Common Pink, Garden Pink, Feathered Pink
Good recovery after planting at the end of February. The young plants have filled out well and are still flowering at the end of September.
Marie-Hélène, 01/10/2025
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Available in 2 sizes
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Available in 2 sizes
Available in 2 sizes
Available in 2 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
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Available in 2 sizes
Available in 1 sizes
This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty
More information
We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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Description
Dianthus plumarius 'Desmond', also known as Desmond carnation, is a very old variety. It is a timeless classic that is suitable for all uses. From summer to autumn, it produces dark red to blood-red double flowers, emitting a heady and spicy fragrance. Already popular with our great-grandmothers, this old variety combines sturdiness, an undemanding nature, and elegance. Ideal for rockeries, walls, and containers. Plant in full sun.
'Desmond' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is an old cultivar (before 1830) resulting from cross-breeding between D. plumarius and D. caryophyllus. D. plumarius is a European perennial and is the main ancestor of the different groups of carnations, both old-fashioned and modern. D. caryophyllus is Mediterranean, and it has passed on to its descendants its wonderful clove fragrance. This carnation's growth rate is quite rapid. Its adult size will not exceed 25 to 30cm (10 to 12in) in height with a spread of 30cm (12in). It forms a rather loose clump. From May to July, and again in September, it displays bouquets of intense dark red flowers, marked with purple at the centre, with numerous fringed petals. The highly fragrant flowers appear at the top of short stems and are usually single-flowered. The more it is pruned, the more it blooms. Its linear, glabrous, evergreen, and leathery leaves are a superb grey-blue-silver colour.
Dianthus plumarius 'Desmond' is a border plant, suitable for embankments and dry rockeries. It is also perfect for containers and bouquets. It can be paired with other flowering cushions such as rock roses, catchflies, dwarf wormwood (Artemisia lanata), wall bellflowers, Caucasian rockcress, creeping phlox, Delosperma cooperi, Erigeron karvinskianus, and bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum). This plant looks beautiful between the stones of a wall or paving, or when planted en masse in a sunny garden. It adapts very well to pot cultivation, in light soil.
Dianthus plumarius Desmond in pictures
Flowering
Foliage
Plant habit
Botanical data
Dianthus
plumarius
Desmond
Caryophyllaceae
Common Pink, Garden Pink, Feathered Pink
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Plant Dianthus plumarius 'Desmond' in ordinary, permeable, humus-bearing, stony, preferably limestone, dry to moist, and especially well-drained soil. Gravel-rich soil yields good results. When planted in the ground, this plant shows a fair amount of hardiness, withstanding temperatures as low as -15°C (5°F). It prefers a very sunny exposure. Trim back the clump slightly after summer flowering to encourage a second blloming in September. In nutrient-rich soil, trim back some of the foliage with shears after flowering to maintain a dense habit. In poor soil, it will be beneficial to apply a balanced fertiliser in March. It is useful to divide the clumps every 3 years to rejuvenate those that are becoming bare at the base or to easily propagate through layering or cuttings.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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