I am new to this growing things so this may seem a silly question, but are Pinks/Carnations a once only plant? It seems such a shame to have to throw them out when they have done so well.
Pink are Dianthus and much smaller than the big carnations you get as cut flowers. They're all hardy perennials though - they keep their lovely foliage all year round too.
It might be Sweet Williams you're thinking of though. They're Dianthus as well but different from the perennial kind and have to be grown from seed each year
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Pinks are very easy to take cuttings (aka pipings) from. Just cut off non-flowering shoots a few inches long, pull off the bottom 2/3rds of the leaves and plant a few around the edge of a pot in 50/50 grit/compost. After a few weeks they should take root (some may dry up and die - remove those) and when you see roots appearing from the bottom of the pot you can separate and pot them individually, at which point nip the top out to encourage branching. Do that every year and you will have a constant supply to replace the older plants when they become leggy and untidy.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Just a quick comment about Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) they are biennials rather than annuals. They grow the first year and flower the second. If you cut them down after flowering they will continue to survive for a few more years.
I love them but they are only annuals in my garden as it's heavy clay which they don't like. I grow some in troughs n free draining soil and they come back year after year in those.
I have a large plant which has been fantastic this year. Just a few stems can perfume a room. I have collected the seed pods and will experiment with them
easiest way tho is stem cuttings, really easy, they will usually root even if just placed in water
Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” A A Milne
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They are perennial but can get untidy so need a bit of a trim to keep them in check.
Pink are Dianthus and much smaller than the big carnations you get as cut flowers. They're all hardy perennials though - they keep their lovely foliage all year round too.
It might be Sweet Williams you're thinking of though. They're Dianthus as well but different from the perennial kind and have to be grown from seed each year
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Pinks are very easy to take cuttings (aka pipings) from. Just cut off non-flowering shoots a few inches long, pull off the bottom 2/3rds of the leaves and plant a few around the edge of a pot in 50/50 grit/compost. After a few weeks they should take root (some may dry up and die - remove those) and when you see roots appearing from the bottom of the pot you can separate and pot them individually, at which point nip the top out to encourage branching. Do that every year and you will have a constant supply to replace the older plants when they become leggy and untidy.
Thanks all for your replies. They have helped as I very nearly threw them away!!
Just a quick comment about Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) they are biennials rather than annuals. They grow the first year and flower the second. If you cut them down after flowering they will continue to survive for a few more years.
There are annual Dianthus by the way,
I love them but they are only annuals in my garden as it's heavy clay which they don't like. I grow some in troughs n free draining soil and they come back year after year in those.
I have a large plant which has been fantastic this year. Just a few stems can perfume a room. I have collected the seed pods and will experiment with them
easiest way tho is stem cuttings, really easy, they will usually root even if just placed in water
A A Milne