Common name: China/Annual/Rainbow Pinks
Family: Caryophyllaceae, Pinks
Height x width: 6-30" x 6-12"
Growth rate: moderate to fast
Foliage: narrow, 1-3" long, opposite, ciliate margins, basal leaves often gone by flowering, blue-gray
Flowers: white, pink, red, purple and bicolors; deeply cut or fringed; some semi-double or double; slight fragrance; loose inflorescence of up to 15 flowers
Hardiness: annual (may be seen as biennial or short-lived perennial in zones 8-10)
Soil: well-drained, moist, fertile
Light: sun
Pests and problems: rust, crown rot, grasshoppers
Landscape habit, uses: fronts of borders, massing, containers, cut flower
Other interest: name from Greek dios meaning divine and anthos meaning flower, said to have been given by Greek Theophrastus
Other culture: pinch out center for bushier plant habit; may self-sow; space 10-12" apart
Propagation: seed (25,000 seeds per ounce) direct outdoors or 8 weeks before planting out
Species:
chinensis (chi-nen' siss)--primary species grown as annual
Cultivars:
| Cultivars | flowers | height | other | |
| Carpet Hybrids | 5 colors and mix | 6-8" | early | |
| Charms Hybrids | mix | 6" | clusters of fringed flowers | |
| 'Flash Pink' | pink | 12" | heat tolerant, early | |
| Ideal Hybrids | mix | 8-10" | single flowers, serrated | |
| Ideal Violet | purple | 8-10" | AAS winner | |
| Magic Charms Hybrids | reds to white | 6" | 1-2" blooms, compact | |
| Princess Hybrids | reds, salmon, white 6-8" | 1-2" wide flowers, fringed | ||
| 'Queen of Hearts' | scarlet-red | 12-15" | 1972 AAS winner | |
| Raspberry Parfait | purple | 8-10" | fringed, unique eye, Fleuroselect | |
| 'Snowfire' | white, red center | 6-8" | fringed, 1978 AAS winner | |
| Strawberry Parfait | red | 8-10" | fringed, unique eye, Fleuroselect | |
| Telstar Hybrids | various, bicolors | 10" | early, compact, awards | |
Return to HGPO
course | PSS123 course