Dianthus isensis

‘Dancing Geisha’

DANCING GEISHAS

Syn. D. chinensis var laciniatus

Dianthus isensis ‘Dancing Geisha’
DANCING GEISHAS

Syn. Dianthus chinensis var. laciniatus
The blooms of Dianthus isensis ‘Dancing Geisha’ are exquisite and almost unbelievable.

Exquisite blooms with unbelievably long spidery fringed petals

Because each petal is fringed with long, fine filaments – like a silk Spanish shawl.
The flowers are slender and elegant – like a dancing Geisha swirling in the breeze.

Intoxicating perfume

The perfume from Dianthus isensis is a sweet intoxication.
You just cant stop drinking it in – it is addictive.
This sweet, pure scent will waft through the garden, or fragrance a room from a vase.
And the lovely delicate scent is produced both at night and all day long, so you will never be without your addiction.

Romantic soft colours

Flower colours range from romantic pale pink shades, through lilacs, to rich, deep velvety reds or pure white. Beautifully colour contrasted by a low clump of fine blue-green leaves.
Many blooms are also banded with deeper colours in the centres.
But whatever colour, each flower is intensely and exquisitely perfumed.

Unbeatable for long blooming & that perfume

Plants of Dianthus isensis ‘Dancing Geisha’ have exceptional length of flower production, from mid-spring on through all the warm months. 
And the more you cut, the more flowers it produces – so no excuse for not cutting fist-fulls to take inside and scent the house.

Plant where you pass frequently

Position ‘Dancing Geisha’ near a door, a window, or the edge of the veranda so you can always drink in the scent and colour.

Lovely cut flowers for florists

Bunches of the fringed flowers are borne on long, clean stems, so they can be easily cut to fill a vase with colour and cover the room with perfume.
And for longest vase life – cut the stems to the ground when the flower buds are half open.
This not only gives you long lasting vase flowers but tidies the perennial clump at the same time.

Wonderful groundcover edge or pot

Blue-green fine foliage makes an attractive low clump all year round – it is an evergreen, permanent, perennial clump – low and tidy.
So plant Dancing Geishas near a path, or in a pot, where you can really enjoy the lovely fringed flowers and delicious scent.
It makes a wonderful groundcover or edge when several plants are grouped together.

Robust, tough & easy grower

Plants of Dianthus isensis ‘Dancing Geisha’ are robust, tough, and very easy to grow perennials.

Virtually maintenance free

And almost maintenance free when planted in a suitable site.
Dancing Geishas are virtually never troubled by any pests, diseases or chewers.
And the only possible work is to harvest flower stems, and then cut them back hard at the end of autumn to tidy up ready for the next year’s blooming season.

Thrives in heat, dry & wind

Position Dancing Geishas in Full Sun, where these tough survivors will thrive in heat, dry, and wind.

Water-wise, drought tolerant & very frost hardy

Plants are water-wise and drought tolerant once established.
Plus very frost hardy.

Loves sandy soil, gravel & rocky sites

This treasure of a Dianthus loves sandy soil, gravel and rocky sites, anything that is well drained.
It loves lime too.
So it is perfectly suited to seaside gardens or life in a pot.
Then you can move it around to have the exquisite perfume always near.

Pollinator magnet

Bees and other flying pollinator friends also just adore these sweetly scented, nectar rich flowers. Loving them as much as we do.
So ideally tuck a plant or two into a corner of the veggie patch, or in a pot nearby, for maximum pollination and fruit/veggie set.

Useful for the cook too

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 flavour in fish dishes too.

Essential ingredient for scented sachets

The harvested petals are also a dream for making pot-pourri or scented drawer sachets, as they hold their colour and fragrance so well when dried.

But bunnies & deer are not so keen

We may find the flowers delicious, but rabbits and deer do not.
So the pests are more inclined to pass by on their way to tastier fodder.

Perennial delight

Dianthus isensis ‘Dancing Geisha’ has flower stems of approx. 35cm High atop a very low evergreen cushion of blue-green foliage approx. 30cm Wide.
The clumps of plants are perennial for several seasons, but they will also gently self-sow new generations each year.
Self sown plants are easily weeded out if you don’t need more volunteers (unlikely – they are so amazing).

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Seeds of Dianthus isensis ‘Dancing Geisha’ can be sown at any time indoors when temperatures are suitable / or scattered directly in the garden in winter or early spring.

Sow Indoors for early plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Now gently pat the seeds to the surface to ensure good contact.
Then barely cover with mix or fine sandy grit – because these seeds need light to germinate.
So not cover deeply.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Then place punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight).

Temperatures of 18-22°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heat mat if you have one, but it is not essential as these seeds are quick and willing germinators.

Continue to keep consistently moist by misting regularly from a spray water-bottle.
Placing a plastic lid or bag over the sown punnet will help to maintain consistent moisture.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 14-21 days.

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: 5 seeds per pack approx. (Seeds of this superb strain of Dianthus are scarce).

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