Dianthus with cherry-red fringed flowers above a mound of blue-green leaves in a garden bed

Dianthus ‘Cherry Pie’

Dianthus 'Cherry Pie'
Categories:
Annuals  ·  
Seasonal Color
Light
Full sun
Water
Moderate water; allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Water at the base and avoid keeping the crown wet. Containers need more frequent monitoring during hot weather.
Size
0.5-1 ft tall × 0.5-1 ft wide
Habit
Perennial clump
Toxicity
Toxic — Pets
Description
A compact dianthus with fragrant cherry-red flowers above a tidy mound of narrow blue-green leaves. In Phoenix, it performs best during cooler months and may be short-lived through extreme summer heat.
Bloom Time
Winter to spring in low desert (October through April)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Annual
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Fragrant, Showy Flowers
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Perennial clump
Mature Size
0.5-1 ft tall × 0.5-1 ft wide
Flower Color
Cherry red
Foliage Color
Blue-green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Container / Patio, Fragrance Garden, Seasonal Color
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Amended / Rich, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Dwarf snapdragons, Pansies, Sweet alyssum, Violas
Toxic — Pets
Toxic to pets (mild GI upset)
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; avoid reflected heat from walls and pavement.

Water: Moderate water; allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Water at the base and avoid keeping the crown wet. Containers need more frequent monitoring during hot weather.

Soil: Very well-drained, sandy or gritty soil with modest organic matter. Tolerates slightly alkaline soil; avoid heavy clay and persistently wet conditions.

Mature size: Approximately 10–12 inches tall and 12–18 inches wide.

Bloom: Mainly spring, with repeat flowering into fall under favorable conditions. Phoenix summer heat may interrupt flowering; remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen perennial in suitable conditions; often best treated as a cool-season annual or short-lived perennial in Phoenix.

Growth rate: Moderate; establishes and flowers most actively during mild weather.