Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Spiked Punch Dianthus: Clove-Scented Fuchsia on Steel Blue Foliage
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Spiked Punch dianthus packs a lot into a small plant. Fully double flowers, 1.5 to 2 inches across, have heavily toothed petals in vibrant fuchsia pink with a deep red eye, held a few inches above a low mound of narrow, steel blue, semi-evergreen leaves. The flowers have the light, sweet, spicy clove scent garden pinks are known for.
It shares lavender's need for sun and drainage, and it looks great along a lavender edge.
Spiked Punch at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Dianthus 'Spiked Punch' |
| Flowers | Fuchsia pink doubles with a deep red eye, 1.5 to 2 inches |
| Foliage | Steel blue, narrow, semi-evergreen |
| Size | 6 to 8 inches tall, 12 to 14 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks mid-June, repeats in early fall when sheared |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Scent | Light, sweet and spicy, clove-like |
| Wildlife | Good for pollinators; moderately deer resistant |
A fragrant front row for lavender
Lavender and garden pinks are an old pairing, and for good reason. Both love sun and lean, well-drained soil, both have blue-gray foliage, and both are fragrant. Spiked Punch blooms in June, just before or as English lavender opens, so the edge of the bed colors up first. Its steel blue leaves then hold the line all summer and into winter, matching lavender's silver.
At only 6 to 8 inches tall, it sits in front of even compact lavenders without hiding them. Plant it along a path where you will catch the clove scent as you pass, and leave a small gap between the dianthus and the lavender crowns so both stay dry and airy. Try layouts in the Companion Plant Planner.
Care through the year
- Soil: average and sharply drained. Winter wetness, not cold, causes most losses.
- Water: tolerates dry spells; let the soil dry between waterings and avoid overhead watering.
- After the June flush: shear lightly to tidy the mound and bring on a second round of flowers in early fall.
- Midsummer: flowering slows in the hottest weeks and picks up again as nights cool.
- Winter: semi-evergreen and reliably hardy in Michigan in sharp drainage. Do not pile mulch over the crown.
- Spring: tidy any winter-damaged leaves.
It was selected for resistance to center die-out, a common problem in older garden pinks, and it handles humid summers better than many of them.
Small bouquets and containers
The short, straight stems are fine for small bouquets; a few fuchsia pinks with lavender sprigs in a tiny vase smell as good as they look. Spiked Punch also works in mixed containers and rock gardens.
Format
Spiked Punch is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, ideal for long edgings, rock gardens and growers. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Does Spiked Punch smell like cloves?
Yes, it has the light, sweet, spicy clove-like scent typical of garden pinks.
Will it bloom more than once?
Shear it lightly after the main June flush and it will flower again in early fall.
Why did my dianthus die over winter?
Wet soil around the crown is the usual cause. Sharp drainage and no mulch over the plant are the fix.
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