Dianthus superbus

‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’

FRINGED LOVELINESS PINKS

Dianthus superbus ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’
FRINGED LOVELINESS PINKS

The blooms of Dianthus superbus ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ are indeed superb.
And greatly improved with delicious scent, sumptuous colours, and those shaggy, long fringed petals.

Exquisite perfume

Flower colours range from romantic pale pink shades, through lilacs, to rich, deep velvety reds or pure white.
And many blooms are banded with deeper colours in the centres too.
But whatever colour, each flower is intensely and exquisitely perfumed.
This intoxicating scent is so powerful it will waft through the garden, or fragrance a whole room from a vase.

Feathery fringed petals

Dianthus superbus ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ also have the longest fringes along each petal edge.
So they are unusually eye catching and enchanting flowers, for either the garden or vase.

In a class of its own for long blooming & perfume

Plants of Dianthus superbus ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ punch way above their weight for flower production and perfume power.
This improved strain of the old favourite Fringed Pinks is on the next level.
Plus the intense perfume is produced both at night and all day.

Drink in the scent & sumptuous colours

So plant ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ near a door, a window, or the edge of the veranda so you can always drink in the scent and colour.

Lovely cut flowers

Bunches of the fringed flowers are borne on long stems, so they can be easily cut to fill a vase with colour and fill 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 or edge

Grey-green fine foliage makes an attractive clump.
So plant Dianthus superbus near an edge, 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

Dianthus superbus ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ are robust, tough, and very easy to grow perennials.
And almost maintenance free when planted in a suitable site.

Water-wise & thrives in heat, dry & wind

So plant ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ in Full Sun, where these tough little survivors will thrive in heat, dry, and wind.
Plants are water-wise and drought tolerant once established, and very frost hardy.

Loves sandy soil, gravel & rocky sites

This delightfully shaggy old-world Fringed Pink loves sandy soil, gravel and rocky sites.
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 of ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ delicious, but rabbits and deer do not.
So the pests are more inclined to pass by on their way to tastier fodder.

Perennial Loveliness

Dianthus superbus ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ is approx. 30cm High when in flower x 30cm Wide evergreen cushion of grey-green foliage.
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 sweet).

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Seeds of Dianthus superbus ‘Rainbow Loveliness Improved’ 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.

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 16-20°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 moist by placing a plastic lid or bag over the sown punnet, and misting the mix surface with a spray water bottle when required.

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

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