Dianthus First LoveCheddar pink
科:石竹科
Family:Caryophyllaceae
属:石竹属
common name:Cheddar pink
introduce:Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 1 to 1.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: May - August
Bloom Color: White to pink to lavender rose
Sun: Full sun (only)
Water: Medium moisture
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers moderately fertile, alkaline, somewhat gritty loams with good drainage. Avoid moist, poorly-drained soils. Garden pinks tend to die out in the center if drainage is not superior. Division may be necessary every 2-3 years. Prompt removal of spent flowers prolongs bloom period, but can be quite labor intensive. For larger plantings, it is perhaps more practical to simply shear off spent flowers after the bloom begins to taper off.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
First Love is a clump-forming hybrid garden pink that is noted for the changing colors of its flowers. Flowers emerge white changing to pink and finally to lavender-rose as they mature, with all colors typically appearing at the same time on a clump. Forms a foliage mound of silvery blue-green leaves rising 15-18" tall and spreading to 20" wide. Foliage is evergreen, providing some winter interest to the garden. Masses of heavily fringed, very fragrant, single flowers (to 1.5" diameter) cover the foliage mound in spring. With deadheading and/or shearing of spent blooms, First Love may bloom continuously from spring to frost. In warm winter climates (USDA Zones 8-9), this cultivar may bloom year-round. Pinks are so named because their fringed petals typically look like they were cut with pinking shears.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf spot can be troublesome in humid summers, particularly where plants are crowded. Crown rot may attack plants grown in wet, poorly drained soils.
Uses:
Rock gardens, border fronts, edgings, fragrance gardens and containers. Also good for cutting gardens. Attractive evergreen foliage.
