Horse carnations are wild beauties that grow in special locations throughout Europe. They are perfect for cultivating in the garden, as their hardy and easy-care characteristics do not require any horticultural expertise. Nevertheless, you should know some special features of the delicate plant.

The Heidenelke is native to us

Table of Contents

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  1. origin
  2. growth
  3. leaves
  4. blossom
  5. heyday
  6. fruit
  7. use
  8. Edible
  9. Which location is suitable?
  10. What soil does the plant need?
  11. Propagating heather carnations
  12. sowing
  13. cuttings
  14. What is the best planting time?
  15. The right planting distance
  16. heath carnation in the pot
  17. balcony
  18. Water the heather carnation
  19. Fertilize heather carnations properly
  20. Properly cut the heather carnation
  21. How do I plant correctly?
  22. hardy
  23. fungus
  24. pests
  25. heather carnation does not bloom
  26. sorts

    27. origin

    The heather pink, with the Latin name Dianthus deltoides, belongs to the carnation family. Their distribution area extends across Europe to western Siberia to the Yenisei. The species does not occur naturally outside these habitats. In Argentina, North America and New Zealand, the pink carnation from planted stocks ran wild. It avoids substrates with a high lime content.

    The heath pink grows in these habitats:

    • dry sand and siliceous grassland
    • ruderal meadows
    • in flat and hilly areas

    growth

    Carnations are herbaceous plants that overwinter with their stolons creeping above and below the ground. They give rise to creeping stems that branch at the base and then ascend. As a result, the delicate and short-haired stems develop a lawn-like growth habit. Horse carnations grow between ten and forty centimeters high.

    leaves

    The leaves are opposite in pairs on the stem. Their surface is grey-green in color and densely hairy. The leaf blade is narrow and reaches a length of up to 2.5 centimeters. When flowerless, the plant is easily mistaken for a weed.

    blossom

    Dianthus deltoides bears terminal flowers composed of five purple petals. The petals are frayed at the edge. Near the center of the flower they bear white speckles and a dark mark reminiscent of the shape of a triangle. This particular pattern earned the plants their botanical species name "deltoides". The flowers are solitary or in multiples in panicle-shaped inflorescences. They are hermaphrodite, purely male or female.

    heyday

    Between June and September, the blossoms of the heather carnations shine. They open their flowers in the morning hours and close them in the evening. The pollinators mainly included butterflies, which are impressed by the color of the flowers. Pinks give off a subtle scent that some people notice.

    fruit

    Horse carnations develop capsule fruits that dry up when ripe and release numerous seeds. As a cold germinator, the seed needs low temperatures to stimulate germination.

    use

    The heather pink feels particularly at home in gardens with stone and gravel systems. Its flowers set a colorful accent in heather gardens. The herbaceous plants decorate south-facing embankments, niches on dry walls or similar habitats in natural gardens. They are suitable for planters and can be cultivated on roof gardens, balconies and terraces.

    Matching plant neighbors:

    • Bent Grass (Agrostis capillaris)
    • Common broom (Genista sagittalis)
    • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
    • Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
    • Cushion bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)

    Edible

    Flowers of the heath carnation are edible and can be used as a decoration for savory salads and sweet fruit salads. They garnish desserts and refine fruity bowls with their sweet aroma.

    Which location is suitable?

    Dianthus deltoides grows in full sun with dry conditions. The plants find optimal growth conditions on stony subsoil, because the stones store heat. Horse carnations bloom more luxuriantly the warmer and more open their growth location is.
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    What soil does the plant need?

    The native perennial prefers a well-drained substrate that does not become waterlogged. The pH is ideally in the acidic range. It is considered to be slightly tolerant to lime. Their growth is severely limited on calcareous substrates. As a typical species in poor locations, the heather pink gets along well with nutrient-poor soils.

    Propagating heather carnation

    A division of the stock is not recommended, since the sensitive wild perennial grows poorly after the measure. You can propagate heather carnations by seeds or cuttings.

    sowing

    A cold stimulus promotes germination. If you collect bolls from your plants in the fall, store the seeds in a cool, dry place until next spring. You can grow the seeds on the windowsill in the mini greenhouse (€7.95) from February. Use nutrient-poor potting soil or coco hum. From April, the seeds are sown directly in the bed. Scatter the seeds thinly on the substrate, because the young plants will quickly expand in all directions.

    Worth knowing about Kokohum:

    • consists of fibers of the coconut
    • is offered in pressed briquette form
    • Presslings are soaked in water before sowing
    • good water storage
    • ideal ventilation

    cuttings

    To propagate cuttings, cut off flowerless shoots from a plant close to the ground. You can take cuttings until summer. Remove the lower leaves and put the shoots in potting soil.

    What is the best planting time?

    The ideal time for exposing the young plants is from May. You can also put heather carnations in the bed earlier if there is no danger of night frosts.

    The right planting distance

    Plant carnations in small groups for a beautiful long-distance effect. A distance of at least 15 centimeters from each other is ideal. For extensive planting, you can distribute about 16 plants on one square meter. Humus and nutrient-rich soils should be thinned out with sand or gravel before planting.

    heath carnation in the pot

    As an undemanding plant, Dianthus deltoides can easily be cultivated in a pot. Place a single plant in a bucket or tub. You can use discarded planters that can no longer be used for perennials with a higher water requirement due to damage. Make sure the drainage is high enough.

    Within the next one to two years, the heather carnation and its foothills will have spread completely in the bucket, so that breakage or blemishes will quickly become invisible. If you place the pot in a sunny and warm location, you can enjoy a longer flowering period.

    balcony

    Pinks thrive on south-facing balconies. Small biotopes can be created with native wild perennials and other herbaceous plants that are typical of nutrient-poor grasslands. Plant Dianthus deltoides between thyme, field bellflower and round-leaved bellflower, orange hawkweed and corn radish. The arrangement not only offers sensual pleasures to the eye, but also increases the variety of bees, butterflies and birds on your balcony.

    Water the heather carnation

    Horse carnations have a low water requirement. Their grass-like leaves evaporate little water because they have a reduced leaf blade and are additionally protected by a wax layer. Only water the plants during very long dry periods when growth stagnates. The leaves yellow quickly when they get water. Blossoms rot easily from too much moisture. Water carnations only in the root area.

    Fertilize heather carnations properly

    Fertilizers are not necessary because heather carnations have specialized in lean locations. If an additional nutrient supply is necessary, you should use the fertilizer sparingly.

    Properly cut the heather carnation

    Horse carnations do not need to be pruned. Regularly remove dead shoots and withered inflorescences so that the plant is stimulated to form new flowers. The perennials are short-lived and ensure their continued existence through self-sowing. Allow some flowers to mature into fruit so the seeds can sprout.

    How do I plant correctly?

    Since the heather carnation reacts sensitively to disturbances in its habitat, overgrown stocks should not be replanted. If the wild perennials need a new place, you should rejuvenate the stock with cuttings and plant them in the new location. Potted plants do not have to be moved either. The root system of the carnation family remains compact, so that one planter is sufficient for many years.

    hardy

    Dianthus deltoides is hardy and does not need protection in the cold season. The above-ground creepers are protected by the snow cover. You should avoid mulching, as this measure leads to moist substrate conditions. The plant does not survive waterlogging in winter.

    Overwinter potted plants

    Potted plants are more susceptible to frost because the substrate freezes quickly. Protect the bucket with fleece or jute bags and place it on a wooden board. Place the pot in a weather-protected place so that no rainwater or snow collects in the pot. On frost-free and sunny days, the plants are watered moderately.
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    fungus

    Suboptimal site conditions lead to the spread of various fungal spores. In places that are too shady, there is a wetter microclimate, where gray mold and downy mildew find good growing conditions. When planting, make sure that the growing area is warm and dry.

    pests

    Pinks are hardy plants. As a native species, Dianthus deltoides is rarely attacked by pests.

    aphids

    Aphids occasionally become a problem, leaving sticky secretions on the leaves. Rust fungus spores find optimal growth conditions on this honeydew. The pests prefer to spread on the freshly sprouting stalks and can be wiped off with a damp cloth.

    snails

    In the spring, the fresh shoots become a feast for snails. With sharp-edged stones you can put obstacles in the way of the voracious guests. Roasted aromas from old coffee grounds act as a deterrent. Snails like moist and shady conditions. In an open and light-flooded location, pink pinks become unattractive to the mollusks.

    heather carnation does not bloom

    Young plants need time to grow and will bloom sparsely or not at all for the first two years. From the third year, the perennials develop their full flowering splendor.

    tips

    Horse carnations are offered in different shades. Combine different varieties in a large bucket and enjoy the firework of colours.

    sorts

    • beacon: Green foliage with brownish nuances. Velvety, dark red flowers from June to August. Between five and 15 centimeters high.
    • Nelly: Bright red flowers with light spots and a dark ring, blooms from June to September. Grows between ten and forty centimeters high.
    • Brilliant: Fast growing perennial. Scarlet flowers with a dark ring, flowering between summer and autumn. Reaches growth heights of up to 15 centimetres.
    • albus: Cushion to clump-forming perennial. Flowers simply formed and colored white with a light fragrance, from June to July. Up to 20 centimeters high.

Category:

Herbs