Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Appleblossom Burst Dianthus: Pink-and-White Edging for Lavender
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Appleblossom Burst dianthus covers a low, blue-green mound with semi-double, fringed flowers about an inch across. The color shifts from nearly white to soft pink to a strong pink blush, often with several shades on one plant, so it looks like a branch of apple blossoms laid on the ground. The flowers carry a light clove scent.
Appleblossom Burst at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Dianthus 'Appleblossom Burst' |
| Flowers | Semi-double, fringed, white to deep pink blush |
| Foliage | Blue-green, grassy, semi-evergreen |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches tall, 16 to 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, reblooms in early fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Fragrance | Light clove |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
The front row of a lavender bed
Dianthus is one of the classic lavender companions, and for good reason. Both want full sun, lean, gritty soil and dry feet, and both suffer in heavy, wet ground. Appleblossom Burst stays low enough to sit in front of lavender without hiding it, and its blue-green, grassy foliage echoes the cool tone of lavender leaves even when nothing is blooming.
Its June flowers open as the earliest lavenders begin to color, so soft pink and white sit right beneath the first purple spikes. Then, after a light shearing, it blooms again in early fall when the lavender bed is quiet. It also suits rock gardens and mixed containers. Plan an edging row in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to lean, well drained and gritty. Wet, heavy soil, especially in winter, causes crown rot.
- Water: regular water until established, then it handles dry spells.
- Shearing: after the June flush, shear the plant lightly to set up the fall flowers.
- Summer pause: flowering may stop in the hottest weeks and resume as nights cool.
- Winter: the foliage stays semi-evergreen. Keep heavy mulch off the crown and trim any winter-burned tips in spring.
Small bouquets with a clove note
Appleblossom Burst is a good fresh-cut flower. A handful of its short stems tucked around a few sprigs of fresh lavender makes a fragrant little posy for a bedside table or a guest room. Cut when the flowers have just opened, and recut the stems under water.
The plug tray
It comes as a 72-cell plug tray, a practical way to line a long lavender bed or fill a rock garden, or to grow on for your own containers. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the flowers different colors?
That is the charm of this variety. Blooms range from nearly white to deep pink blush, often on the same plant.
Does it need deadheading?
A light shear after the first flush is all it needs, and it rewards you with fall flowers.
Can it share a pot with lavender?
Yes. In a large, well-drained container with gritty mix, the two make a tidy pairing.
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