Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Cherry Vanilla Dianthus: Clove-Scented Edging for Lavender
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Cherry Vanilla dianthus looks like a miniature carnation that dressed up for the occasion. Its fully double, ruffled flowers are deep red with a crisp rim of very light pink, about an inch and a half across, and they carry a light, sweet, clove-like scent. Underneath sits a low, dense mound of blue-green, grassy leaves that stay attractive most of the year.
It likes exactly what lavender likes: sun, lean soil and sharp drainage. That makes it one of the easiest edging plants to put in front of a lavender row.
Cherry Vanilla at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Dianthus 'Cherry Vanilla' |
| Flowers | Fully double, deep red with a light pink picotee edge; clove scented |
| Foliage | Blue-green, narrow and grassy; semi-evergreen |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches tall, 8 to 12 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, repeats in early fall after shearing |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
Edging a lavender bed
Dianthus and lavender have been sharing cottage gardens for a long time, and it is easy to see why. Both want sun and dry feet, both bring fragrance, and both have blue-green to silver foliage that stays handsome after the flowers pass. Cherry Vanilla adds a punch of red and pink at the front, right where you can see and smell it.
Plant a row along a path or the front edge of a lavender bed, about a foot apart. The June flush lines up nicely with the first lavender blooms, and the early fall rebloom gives the bed a second spark after the lavender is harvested. Plan the edge in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to lean, well-drained and even gritty. Wet, heavy soil is the main threat, especially in winter.
- Water: during establishment, then only in long dry spells.
- Shearing: shear lightly after the early-summer flush to bring on a second round in early fall.
- Heat: flowering may pause in the hottest weeks and resume as nights cool.
- Mulch: keep heavy mulch away from the crown; use gravel if you want a top dressing.
- Spring: trim winter-burned leaf tips once new growth starts.
Small bouquets
Cherry Vanilla is a good cut flower for little arrangements. Snip stems when the flowers are just open and pair them with sprigs of fresh lavender in a small jar for a fragrant tabletop posy. Cutting doubles as deadheading, so the plant stays tidy too. It is ornamental and not grown for eating.
About the plug tray
Cherry Vanilla is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, which makes it easy to edge long beds or fill rock gardens and containers. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cherry Vanilla fragrant?
Yes, mildly. The flowers have a light, sweet, spicy clove-like scent.
Why did my dianthus rot over winter?
Almost always from wet soil or mulch piled on the crown. Plant it in well-drained ground, the same as your lavender.
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