Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Sweetie Pie Dianthus: Clove-Scented Pink at the Lavender's Edge
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Sweetie Pie dianthus is a pastel garden pink with full, true pink flowers, 1.25 to 1.5 inches wide, with toothed petals and a slightly darker pink eye. It blooms so heavily in early summer that its low mound of silvery blue-green foliage disappears under the flowers.
The flowers carry the light, sweet and spicy clove scent garden pinks are known for, which makes it a lovely plant to brush past on the way to the lavender.
Sweetie Pie at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Dianthus 'Sweetie Pie' |
| Flowers | True pink with a darker eye, semi-double to double, 1.25 to 1.5 inches |
| Fragrance | Moderate, sweet and clove-like |
| Foliage | Silvery blue-green, semi-evergreen |
| Size | About 10 inches tall, 12 to 14 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 |
A natural lavender bedmate
Dianthus and lavender want nearly the same things: full sun, lean, well-drained soil and dry feet in winter. Winter wetness, not cold, is what kills both of them. That makes Sweetie Pie one of the few companions you can plant right up to the edge of a lavender bed without compromise.
The look is gentle and pastel. Silvery blue-green dianthus foliage echoes silver lavender leaves, and soft pink flowers in June lead straight into lavender's purple. Edge a path with Sweetie Pie in front of a row of lavender and the bed has color and fragrance from early June on. Keep each dianthus a few inches from the lavender crowns so both stay airy. Sketch the edge in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average and sharply drained. It dislikes wet, heavy soil, especially in winter.
- Water: tolerates dry spells once established.
- Rebloom: shear the plant back lightly after the June flush to encourage flowers again in early fall.
- Winter: semi-evergreen and reliably hardy in Michigan in well-drained soil. Do not pile mulch over the crown; tidy winter-damaged leaves in spring.
It was selected for resistance to center die-out, a common complaint with older pinks. The main risks are crown and root rot in wet, heavy soil and occasional leaf spot in damp weather.
Small bouquets and containers
Short stems of Sweetie Pie are fine for small bouquets. A few clove-scented pinks and a handful of fresh lavender in a juice glass make an easy, fragrant table arrangement. It also suits rock gardens and mixed containers with a gritty, fast-draining mix.
Plug tray
Sweetie Pie is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, enough to edge a long lavender border. See the product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Does it stay green in winter?
It is semi-evergreen, so the silvery foliage stays attractive most of the year.
Do deer bother it?
It is moderately deer resistant. Like lavender, its foliage is not a deer favorite.
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