Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Electric Red Dianthus: Solid Red Flowers on Silvery Foliage
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Electric Red dianthus catches the eye from across the yard. Its semi-double flowers, about an inch across with fringed, toothed petals, are a solid, saturated red with no dark eye markings, held on strong, short stems above a compact mound of silvery blue-green, semi-evergreen leaves. A mature plant can carry hundreds of flowers at once in its June flush.
Electric Red at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Dianthus 'Electric Red' |
| Flowers | Semi-double, solid rich red, about 1 inch across |
| Foliage | Silvery blue-green, grassy, semi-evergreen |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches tall, about 16 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, reblooms after shearing |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
A bold front row
Most lavender companions play it soft. Electric Red does the opposite. A low line of saturated red at the front of a lavender bed makes the purple behind it look cooler and the whole planting look more deliberate. The silvery foliage is the bridge: it matches lavender's gray-green leaves, so even when the dianthus is not in flower, the edge looks like part of the same planting.
It peaks in mid-June, often just as lavender buds are coloring, then returns later in summer after a trim. Space plants about a foot apart for a continuous edge, and keep them a few inches in front of the lavender crowns. Try it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Care for a long-lived clump
- Soil: average to lean, sharply drained. Wet, heavy soil, especially in winter, causes crown and root rot.
- Water: at the base only, letting the soil dry between waterings.
- Shearing: after the June flush, cut spent flowers back to the foliage for rebloom.
- Heat: bred for heat tolerance; flowering slows in the hottest weeks and returns as nights cool.
- Winter: semi-evergreen and reliably hardy in Michigan in sharp drainage. No mulch over the crown; tidy winter-damaged leaves in spring.
It was selected to resist center die-out, so the mound stays full instead of going hollow after a few seasons.
Rock gardens, pots and posies
Electric Red is equally at home in a rock garden, a gravel strip or a mixed container in full sun. The short stems are fine for small bouquets; a few red stems in a jar of fresh lavender make a striking little arrangement. It is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, a good size for long edges and mass plantings. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is it fragrant like other pinks?
No notable fragrance is listed for this variety. If scent is your priority, choose a clove-scented dianthus and let Electric Red handle color.
Does it have a dark eye?
No. The flowers are solid red, which is what gives them such a strong look from a distance.
How many flowers does it make?
A mature plant can carry hundreds of flowers during its main flush.
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