Funky Fuchsia Dianthus: Double Blooms at the Lavender's Feet

Funky Fuchsia dianthus brings a color you do not often see in a hardy garden pink: a solid fuchsia purple, on fully double, carnation-like flowers 1.5 to 2 inches across with ruffled, toothed edges. In early summer the blooms crowd so closely that the low mound of blue-green, grassy leaves nearly disappears underneath.

Put it at the front of a lavender bed and it looks like it was born there. The purple tones in the flowers echo the lavender behind it, and the two love the same sunny, well-drained ground.

Funky Fuchsia at a glance

Why it belongs in front of lavender

Funky Fuchsia opens in early June, a little ahead of most English lavender, so it starts the color show and then overlaps with the first lavender spikes. Its blue-green foliage is a close cousin of lavender's silver-gray, and both stay attractive most of the year, which keeps the front edge of the bed from looking bare in spring and late fall. At 8 to 10 inches tall it never blocks the view of what grows behind it.

The two also share a weakness: wet feet. Give both sharp drainage and they are long-lived. Try a border of dianthus along a lavender row in the Companion Plant Planner.

Getting the second bloom

• Shear after the first flush: once most flowers fade in early summer, trim the whole mound lightly with shears.
• Midsummer pause: flowering slows in the hottest weeks. That is normal; it picks up again as nights cool.
• Early fall: expect a second round of blooms, plus a few scattered flowers between.

Soil, water and winter

Plant in average soil that drains quickly. Water at the base rather than overhead, and let the soil dry between waterings. This variety was selected for heat tolerance and to resist the center die-out that older garden pinks are known for, and it handles humid summers better than many of them, given good air movement.

It is semi-evergreen and reliably hardy in Michigan when drainage is sharp. Winter wetness, not cold, causes most losses, so do not pile mulch over the crown. In spring, tidy away any winter-damaged leaves.

A small bouquet bonus

The florist-quality flowers are fine for small bouquets and bud vases, and their spicy fragrance pairs nicely with a few stems of fresh lavender. Cut when the flowers are just open.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the same as a carnation?

Carnations and garden pinks are both Dianthus. Funky Fuchsia has carnation-like double flowers on a low, hardy mound.

How is it offered?

As a full 72-cell plug tray of young starter plugs, a good fit for edging long beds. See the product page for current availability.

Keep exploring

• Funky Fuchsia Dianthus 72-Cell Plug Tray
• Companion Plant Library
• Companion Plant Planner
• Care Calendar