I think they may not be alive.... You might be lucky and find a tiny bit of green growth underneath, but I wouldn't hold my breath Dianthus are evergreen, unless that's a variety that's completely different in some way. They can certainly look rough over winter, and revive in spring - especially after a tidy up, but those look finished.
I just had a quick look and it seems those aren't fully hardy - only to about minus 5, so it may just have got too cold/wet. There seems to be a quite a few varieties being bred more as summer bedding, so if they're too wet/cold, that'll be the difficulty. I had one a couple of years ago, and I think it was the same sort of thing. I couldn't keep it alive here.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have some dianthus in my garden and I must agree, yours do look rather dead. They will have enjoyed the long hot summer but definitely do not like a lot of wet, as we have been having. If you are very attached to your plants you could try lifting them, putting them in pots with plenty of drainage and overwinter them in a greenhouse if you have one. There may be some life left in the roots which will sprout next Spring. Failing that a porch or kitchen window sill. They need to be kept "just damp".
They look dead to me! I have a few different named varieties of dianthus that survive the winter but bought some (pink kisses or something like that) from the GC which were selling pots of them for a £1 and they died after one season. Methinks grown in a hothouse as bedding and unable to survive, as everyone says, the cold and wet.
I don't think I'd spend the time/compost/greenhouse space trying to save those. Lots of websites say they're perennial but they shouldn't have turned completely brown like that. Maybe they've had too much or too little water at some point.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I found the label for them, they're Dianthus allwoodii - which it says is perennial not sure how hardy but yes very brown now unfortunately They've been in the cold frame since buying them didn't get chance to plant them out was going to do it next spring. Shame really.
If they're still in the original small pots and sheltered from rain, they could easily have dried out at some point. You could hang on to them until spring, keep the compost damp (not soaking) and see if they regrow, but I don't think I'd hold out much hope.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Can I ask why you had them in a cold frame? Have you had them a long time? I had a look and it seems they aren't totally hardy.
Pink Kisses - that's the one I had @didyw. Hopeless here. I'd have kept it in the growhouse [or even in the house] if I'd realised it was so feeble
I think some of them are more like Sweet Williams [can't remember the proper name ] which aren't hardy like most Dianthus. They're short lived perennials and need grown from seed regularly etc.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They were meant to be planted in a cemetery but I didn't get around to it, and any pots that get left out in the open here in the garden the squirrels dig them up and put nuts inside!! So anything that's waiting to be planted has to go in coldframe or greenhouse or under mesh. We even have to mesh the greenhouse open doors in the summer or everything's turned inside out. So that's the only reason they're in, it's vented, it's not for cold protection - it's for rodent protection.
They're not very tough things by the looks. Need something a bit more robust but compact. I'll think of something better to put there next spring - I'd be happy to hear anyone's suggestions. Thanks everyone for your input.
Ah - fair enough. If you look for the proper, hardy Dianthus, they'll be fine. There are hundreds and hundreds of varieties, and you can divide them or take cuttings very easily. I usually get mine at the nursery I use, but I'll see if I can find a good supplier
There will be other plants that might suit too. Are you looking for plants that will cope with little attention etc?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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You might be lucky and find a tiny bit of green growth underneath, but I wouldn't hold my breath
Dianthus are evergreen, unless that's a variety that's completely different in some way. They can certainly look rough over winter, and revive in spring - especially after a tidy up, but those look finished.
I just had a quick look and it seems those aren't fully hardy - only to about minus 5, so it may just have got too cold/wet. There seems to be a quite a few varieties being bred more as summer bedding, so if they're too wet/cold, that'll be the difficulty. I had one a couple of years ago, and I think it was the same sort of thing. I couldn't keep it alive here.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I ♥ my garden.
If you are very attached to your plants you could try lifting them, putting them in pots with plenty of drainage and overwinter them in a greenhouse if you have one. There may be some life left in the roots which will sprout next Spring. Failing that a porch or kitchen window sill. They need to be kept "just damp".
I found the label for them, they're Dianthus allwoodii - which it says is perennial not sure how hardy but yes very brown now unfortunately
They've been in the cold frame since buying them didn't get chance to plant them out was going to do it next spring. Shame really.
I had a look and it seems they aren't totally hardy.
Pink Kisses - that's the one I had @didyw. Hopeless here. I'd have kept it in the growhouse [or even in the house] if I'd realised it was so feeble
I think some of them are more like Sweet Williams [can't remember the proper name ] which aren't hardy like most Dianthus. They're short lived perennials and need grown from seed regularly etc.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They're not very tough things by the looks. Need something a bit more robust but compact. I'll think of something better to put there next spring - I'd be happy to hear anyone's suggestions. Thanks everyone for your input.
If you look for the proper, hardy Dianthus, they'll be fine. There are hundreds and hundreds of varieties, and you can divide them or take cuttings very easily.
I usually get mine at the nursery I use, but I'll see if I can find a good supplier
There will be other plants that might suit too. Are you looking for plants that will cope with little attention etc?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...