Dianthus caryophyllus

‘Picotee Mix’

HERITAGE FRENCH PICOTEE PINKS

Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Picotee Mix’
HERITAGE FRENCH PICOTEE PINKS

Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Picotee Mix’ are a heritage Carnation variety from France.
Loved as “French Striped Carnations” or “Old Striped Pinks”.
With a scent to swoon for.

Heritage French Striped Carnations

A mix of double, old-fashioned garden Carnations from a heritage French strain.

Each with different striped, laced petals & picotee frills

Each plant gives blooms with different striped and laced petal patterns, and picotee edged frills.
In a wonderful range of soft, old-world colours.
Exquisite!!!

With a scent to swoon for

These “Old French Pinks” can’t be beaten for perfume.
They have the intense, sweet, spicy clove scent that immediately takes you back to a gentler age.

Old time all time garden favourite

They were a favourite with my Grandmother, and still with me today.

Old original Pinks needing no molly-coddling

These are the old original Picotee Pinks that our modern florist’s Carnations have been bred from.
But these old originals are delightful garden plants, and need no special molly-coddling.

For abundant cut flowers
with soft colours, lacey markings & divine scent

They make superb cut flowers
For long vase life – Cut the stems to the base when the flowers are just opening (not in tight bud or they may not develop full perfume – and that would be a tragedy).

Easy to grow 

Plants of Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Picotee Mix’ are easy to grow, low maintenance plants in Full Sun positions.
Rarely if ever troubled by any pests or diseases.

Water-wise & drought resistant

My Grandmother had no water to squander on the farm – So these “Pinks” she loved so much, had to be able to get on with the job with little assistance.
They are a water-wise choice for gardeners with limited water supplies.

Heat & dry hardy

Dianthus caryophyllus enjoy Full Sun positions.
And must have well drained soil.
They also enjoy plenty of lime – so if you garden on acid soils – give them a dust lime in spring and autumn.

Perfect for sandy, gravel, rocky, seaside & exposed sites

They are perfect for sandy soils, rocky sites, seaside and very exposed positions, where they thrive in the well drained conditions.
They should not be pampered with too much fertilizer (it will make them soft).
So minimal feeding if any at all.

Thrive in pots

They are very happy in pots – where their exquisite fragrance and flower colours can be enjoyed to the full, at every possible opportunity.

Plant where you can drink in the intoxicating scent

So keep them close.

Frost hardy

Plants of Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Picotee Mix’ are toughly frost hardy, and able to shrug off temperatures  down to -30°C.

Tuffet of neat grey-green foliage attractive all year

And their neat grey-green foliage mound is attractive all year round even when not in flower.

Make a beautiful garden edge 

So you can grow Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Picotee Mix’ anywhere you can grow roses and sun loving perennials, and they all look and smell wonderful together.

Or groundcover underplanting

A garden edge of  “French Striped Carnations” is a joy for life.
And they are ideal as a mass planting ground-cover.

Quick from seed to flower the first year

Seeds are quick and easy to germinate.
And plants can then easily be in flower in their first year – so you will soon be enjoying those delightful flowers and intoxicating scent.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Fortunately rabbits and deer do not find the tufty foliage to their liking (though a starving beast will eat the fence posts of course).

Beloved by bees pollinators & birds

While all our flying friends love them for their sweet pollen and nectar.

Very handy for the cook

Harvest the petals for their clove like flavour, and use them in cakes; in salads – for both flavour and decoration; to add a hint of spice to soups and stir fries; as topping for ice cream, fruit salad and desserts; or making sorbet and punch drinks. They are a great in fish dishes too, adding a spicy clove flavour.

Evergreen perennial clump

Approx. 60cm High flower stems sitting proud above a low, compact clump of  blue-grey foliage x 30cm Wide approx.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Sow at any time of year in a punnet indoors, whenever suitable tmperay=tures can be provided (16-20°C).
OR
Sow in the garden in early spring or autumn.

Sow indoors for quick germination & early plants:
First sow the seeds in a punnet on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then gently press the seeds onto the mix to ensure good contact.
Now barely cover the seeds with sieved mix or fine sandy grit, but do not bury.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

Then stand the sown punnet in a shallow water bath and allow the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Drain, then place the moist punnet in a warm, well-lit position position (but not in any direct sunlight, as this will dry the seeds out and prevent germination).

Temperatures of 15-20°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
So you can use a heated mat if you have one to maintain warm temperatures.
However it is not essential as these seeds are willing germinators, given suitable temperatures.
So a warm, well-lit place will do.

Continue to keep the sown punnet consistently moist by misting from a spray water bottle.
Covering with a clear plastic lid will also help to keep the surface consistently moist.
(Remove the cover as soon as sprouting commences).

Seedlings usually begin to emerge in approx. 7-14 days.
Though some may naturally take a little longer – so do not discard the punnet too quickly.

Prick out the seedlings as soon as the first set of true leaves develop.
Pot on, feed gently, and grow on ready for garden planting

Scatter seeds directly in the garden:
Scatter in full sun in neutral to alkaline soil that drains well.
Dianthus do not tolerate wet soil well, particularly in winter – don’t plant them where water collects.

Seed Count: 50 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).