1. Bachelor’s Button
A captivating cultivated wildflower with vivid blue, mauve, pink, or white flowers, bachelor’s button (Centaurea cyanus), aka cornflower, makes an eye-popping mixture with the pink and pink tones of dianthus.
An simply cultivated annual for beds, containers, and cottage or wildflower gardens, plant cultivars with the same peak as pinks for waves of vibrant summer time colour, like styles of carnations, China (D. chinensis), Deptford (D. armeria), and backyard pinks (D. plumarius) in addition to candy william.
Blue bachelor’s button seeds are out there at Earthbeat Seeds.
Be taught extra about rising bachelor’s button in our information.
2. Geranium
An old school favourite nonetheless extremely widespread in the present day, backyard geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) flower all summer time lengthy, making them the proper candidate for including long-lasting colours to any blended plantings.
Begin geranium seeds indoors then mix with midsize varieties like Cheddar (D. gratianopolitanus), Deptford, and backyard pinks in beds, borders, containers, and window containers, or in cottage and patio gardens.
Maverick Geranium ‘Appleblossom’
Seeds from the Maverick sequence in shades of apple blossom, coral, salmon, scarlet, and extra are out there at True Leaf Market.
You will discover our information to rising backyard geraniums right here.
3. Marigold
A colourful and hardworking companion plant, marigold (Tagetes spp.) roots produce a compound known as alpha-terthienyl, which aids in repelling root-knot nematodes and different backyard unfriendlies like micro organism, fungi, bugs, and a few viruses – a worthwhile asset in blended plantings.
Adaptable to a wide range of rising situations, the glowing gold, maroon, orange, and yellow flowers make a vibrant foreground for tall styles of carnations, backyard pinks, and candy williams in beds, borders, and planters.
‘Moonlight’ is an African Marigold cultivar that options pale yellow, aromatic blooms.
You will discover seeds for ‘Moonlight’ and a big number of species and cultivars out there at Eden Brothers.
And take a look at our information to rising marigolds to be taught extra!
4. Pansy
For an early or late burst of colour to accompany your pinks, the basic pansy (Viola × wittrockiana) gives cool-season flowers in strong colours, bicolors, and tricolor combos of blue, mahogany, mauve, purple, yellow, and extra.
Like dianthus, pansies want well-draining soil and full solar.
And though pansy flowering declines in sizzling climate, it picks up once more within the cool evenings of late summer time – excellent timing to help reblooming varieties like candy william in beds, planters, and window containers.
Seeds for the Atlas Combine, which options all kinds of colours are out there at Burpee.
Burpee additionally carries a big choice of colourful cultivars.
Our information to rising pansies covers every thing you’ll want to know.
5. Petunia
Quick rising annuals, petunias (Petunia spp.) can be found in a spread of colours together with blue, mauve, mahogany, orange, pink, purple, and white – good-looking firm for a lot of dianthus varieties.
Trailing petunias make an attractive combine with mounding or spreading pinks in patio pots, planters, and window containers – attempt combining them with low rising varieties like alpine pinks or ‘Firewitch’ for a spell-binding impact.
A choice of single colour, like ‘Alderman Blue,’ and blended petunia seed packets could be discovered at Eden Brothers.
Our information to rising petunias will help you get began.
6. Salvia
Salvia (Salvia spp.) has monumental versatility and easy-care habits make them a pure in any kind of blended planting.
Tall flower spires of blue, coral, mauve, pink, pink, white, and yellow mix superbly with tall species like China pinks, backyard, and giant pinks (D. superbus), or candy william.
They usually make a putting background for shorter cultivars of alpine and Cheddar pinks.
S. x sylvestris ‘Might Evening’ options deep indigo blue flowers held atop 18-inch flower stalks.
You will discover ‘Might Evening’ vegetation out there at Quick Rising Bushes.
And a big array of salvia seeds are out there at Eden Brothers.
Take a look at our information to rising salvia flowers for more information.
7. Snapdragon
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum spp.) flowers most prolifically in cool temperatures, which matches properly with the primary wave of flowers from many dianthus species – and each wish to rebloom when late summer time begins to chill off.
In beds, containers, and cottage or reducing gardens, pair up tall snapdragons with China or backyard pinks and candy william or match lower-growing varieties with alpine pinks or ‘Firewitch.’
The Rocket snapdragon sequence grows as much as 36 inches with seed packets of various sizes out there at True Leaf Market.
And seeds of the semi-dwarf Cinderella Blended Colours could be discovered at Burpee.
Have a learn of our snapdragon rising information to be taught extra.
8. Candy Pea
A captivating match for containers or cottage and reducing gardens, candy peas (Lathyrus odoratus) and long-stemmed dianthus are made for one another in minimize flower preparations – the fruity floral perfume of candy pea flowers and the scent of spicy dianthus mix superbly.
Candy peas flower in an enormous vary of sunshine pastel or richly saturated colours, and dwarf varieties make a superb addition with Cheddar, giant, and backyard pinks in blended hanging baskets, planters, and window containers.
Bijou Blended Dwarf seeds could be discovered at True Leaf Market.
Wish to be taught extra about candy peas? Our rising information has you lined.
9. Verbena
A frost tender perennial handled as an annual, mounding or trailing verbena (Verbena spp.) is a container staple for its lengthy, straightforward season of colourful blooms beloved by pollinators.
Excellent as a complimentary plant to low-profile styles of Cheddar and ‘Firewitch’ pinks, verbena flowers in variations of blue, pink, pink, purple, and white, including depth and fullness to hanging baskets, patio planters, and window containers.
Or use them in floor covers and rockeries with alpine pinks.
Packets of ‘Creativeness’ verbena seeds are out there at True Leaf Market.
Be taught extra about verbena right here.
10. Zinnia
Flowering all summer time in vivid shades of mauve, peach, pink, purple, pink, orange, white, and yellow, zinnias (Zinnia spp.) add glowing splashes of colour to containers or window containers when blended with Cheddar or giant pinks.
And these quick rising annuals are perfect for coloring beds, seasonal floor covers, or rockeries when mixed with alpine, Cheddar, and ‘Firewitch’ varieties.
You will discover seeds for quite a few zinnia varieties at Botanical Pursuits.
Be taught extra about rising zinnias in our information.
Perennials
Together with annuals, many perennials make glorious companions for carnations and pinks.
Solar-loving, flowering perennials are a pure for combining with dianthus in blended beds, containers, and theme gardens.
Listed here are just a few to consider.
11. Allium
Alliums (Allium spp.) are extremely decorative, that includes giant flower globes in shades of blue, mauve, pink, purple, white, and yellow that bloom in late spring and early summer time, coinciding with the primary bloom time of dianthus varieties.
Tall varieties make a putting backdrop in beds or foundations for long-stemmed carnations or candy william, and dwarf cultivars add daring aptitude to borders and containers when alternated with Cheddar pinks.
‘Purple Sensation’ is a tall selection, rising to a peak of 30 inches, with deep purple flowers.
Dutch Grown carries ‘Purple Sensation’ bulbs in a wide range of bundle sizes.
Choose a unique colour? You will discover a wide variety of allium bulbs in each colour at Dutch Grown.
Our information to rising decorative alliums could be discovered right here.
12. Artemisia
Valued for his or her silvery grey foliage, artemisia (Artemisia spp.) is a aromatic herb that makes an attractive background or transition plant, calming and unifying the daring, saturated colours of carnations and pinks.
The mounding behavior and fine-leafed foliage provides trendy grace to beds, borders, containers, and foundations.
Well-liked varieties embrace mugwort (A. vulgaris), southernwood (A. abrotanum), white sage (A. ludoviciana), and wormwoods (A. absinthium, A. schmidtiana, and A. stelleriana) – all make an attractive, gentle praise to any dianthus varieties.
Seeds of frosted grey wormwood (A. absinthium) are out there at True Leaf Market.
13. Bee Balm
The flowers of bee balm (Monarda spp.), in saturated shades of mauve, pink, purple, and pink are the proper mirror for dianthus flowers and glorious at creating giant, spectacular stands of colour.
They make a spectacular, pollinator-attracting background for long-stemmed China or backyard pinks in beds, foundations, and islands or in butterfly, cottage, and reducing gardens.
M. didyma ‘Pardon My Cerise’ is a vivid pink cultivar that grows 12 to 14 inches tall.
Nursery containers of ‘Pardon My Cerise’ bee balm are out there at Nature Hills Nursery.
And have a learn of our information to rising bee balm subsequent!
14. Coneflower
Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) bloom from midsummer onwards and can be found in a variety of juicy colours together with maroon, orange, pink, purple, salmon, pink, and yellow.
Normal sizes make a vivid backdrop in beds and borders and compact varieties are a pure associate interspersed with backyard pinks in beds, containers, and patio planters.
Pixie Meadowbrite is a basic pink selection that tops out at 18 to twenty inches tall.
Nursery containers of Pixie Meadowbrite (‘CBG Cone2′) are out there at Nature Hills.
Wish to be taught extra about coneflowers? Discover our rising information right here.
15. Delphinium
One other cottage backyard basic, tall and stately delphiniums (Delphinium spp.) make a commanding vertical assertion in beds, foundations, and islands, and sometimes function a backdrop to carnations, backyard pinks, and candy william.
Flowering in early summer time, the blue, mauve, purple, and white delphinium flowers add cool complimentary shades to fiery coloured candy william or glowing Chabaud carnations.
You possibly can supply a beautiful blue mixture of delphinium seeds out there at Eden Brothers.
Unsure easy methods to get began with rising delphiniums? Our rising information will help.
16. New England Aster
A late summer time basic, New England aster’s (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae syn. Aster novae-angliae) fairly daisy-like flowers bloom in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white.
Tall asters make a good-looking background in beds and borders for tall carnations and candy William.
And dwarf cultivars are perfect for borders, edging, and floor covers when blended with compact mounding varieties like Cheddar pinks.
Purple New England aster seeds can be found in packets and ounces at Eden Brothers.
Be taught extra about New England asters in our information.
17. Decorative Grass
Grasses, rushes, and sedges (Poaceae, Juncaceae, and Cyperaceae households) are available in a wide variety of colours, sizes, and shapes that add elegant construction to the backyard.
To create repeating patterns in raised beds, foundations, or rockeries, match small mounding or tufted varieties like blue fescue (Festuca glauca) with alpine or Cheddar pinks.
Upright rushes like California rush grass (Juncus patens) are proper at residence in naturalized settings and pair up properly in wildflower gardens with ethereal Deptford or giant pinks.
And a high-quality textured sedge, like fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea), provides a softening cushion to stands of carnations and China pinks in beds and borders.
Nursery containers of ‘Elijah Blue’ fescue grass, ‘Elk Blue’ California grey rush, and fox sedge grass can be found at Nature Hills.
Be taught extra about decorative grass in our information.
18. Phlox
For a vivid and colourful floor cowl or rock backyard, mix creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) in hues of blue, pink, purple, and white with low-growing alpine or Firewitch.
For lengthy lasting summer time colour in blended beds, borders, and islands, use tall styles of backyard phlox (Phlox paniculata) within the background paired with carnations or China, backyard, or giant pinks within the foreground.
Phlox Paniculata ‘Cherry Cream’
Nursery containers of a number of styles of phlox, together with creeping and tall summer time cultivars, like ‘Cherry Cream’ could be discovered at Nature Hills Nursery.
Take a look at our guides to creeping phlox and backyard phlox to be taught extra.
19. Pink Valerian
Flowering profusely from early summer time to fall with shaggy spires of crimson, pink, or white flowers, pink valerian (Centranthus ruber) provides daring, lengthy lasting colour to blended beds, borders, and islands.
An excellent plant to develop for repeating patterns, or you possibly can create giant plenty of pink or pink tones when blended with carnations, China pinks, or candy william.
Pink valerian is out there at Nature Hills Nursery.
20. Russian Sage
Flowering from midsummer till frost, Russian sage (Salvia yangii) creates an attractive purple haze of blooms in perennial beds, islands, foundations, and rockeries.
A hardy and hardworking plant, pair up compact varieties with alpine or Cheddar pinks in rock gardens and use customary varieties with taller dianthus similar to China pinks or candy william.
‘Little Spire’ is a compact cultivar that tops out at two to 3 toes tall.
You will discover ‘Little Spire’ in #1 and quart-sized containers at Nature Hills Nursery.
Want extra information about Russian sage? Our information will help.
21. Shasta Daisy
A favourite for perennial beds and cottage gardens, the white flowers of Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) bloom over midsummer and create a extremely efficient distinction, making the pink tones of dianthus pop and sizzle.
Or they can be utilized to create a shimmering “white backyard” with cultivars of white carnations or candy william.
Potted containers of the dependable ‘Becky’ Shasta daisy could be discovered at Nature Hills.
Take a look at our information to rising Shasta daisies to be taught extra.
22. Succulents
Many succulents, from quite a few households, together with Agavaceae, Aizoaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Cactaceae, make a superb alternative for containers, floor covers, rock gardens, and stone troughs, including distinctive foliage and vivid flowers.
Floor hugging varieties like hens and chicks (Sempervivium) or stonecrop (Sedum) are improbable blended with alpine pinks in stone troughs and pockets all through the rock backyard.
They usually additionally make a good-looking, succulent base layer in blended planters with China or backyard pinks.
You will discover a big choice of hens and chicks and stonecrop out there at Succulent Gardens.
Be taught extra about succulents and easy methods to develop them in our complete guides.
Herbs
In addition to annuals and perennials, many widespread kitchen herbs get pleasure from the identical situations of full solar and well-draining soil, and make a candy addition to blended flower teams in beds and containers.
The addition of herbs to blended preparations can also be useful for his or her pure pest management properties.
Think about the next herbs to combine with dianthus.
23. Marjoram
A low rising herb with fairly clusters of small lavender, pink, or white flowers in midsummer, marjoram (Origanum majorana) is extremely helpful in borders, containers, edging, and window containers.
Plant marjoram with giant pinks or candy william.
Seeds of candy marjoram can be found in packets, ounces, and kilos at True Leaf Market.
Go to our rising information to be taught extra about marjoram.
24. Oregano
A flexible plant for the culinary use, oregano (Origanum vulgare) produces midsized spires of dainty mauve, pink, or white flowers in midsummer and makes a reasonably decorative in border fronts, containers, and rock gardens.
Use oregano as a floor cowl or rockery plant with low mounding Alpine pinks or blended with ‘Firewitch’ in containers and window containers.
For borders and edging, alternate with clumps of Cheddar pinks or candy william for ornamental designs.
Oregano seeds are out there at Eden Brothers in a wide range of packet sizes.
Discover extra details about oregano right here.
25. Rosemary
Lined with small blue flowers in spring and reblooming calmly in late summer time and fall, rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a premier herb for kitchen gardens – but it surely’s additionally excellent for obstacles, floor covers, and containers.
Use upright varieties for unfastened or trimmed obstacles and plant with massed stands of candy William in entrance for distinctive, contrasting colours.
Dwarf varieties similar to ‘Blue Boy’ are finest for container development blended with the likes of Cheddar or ‘Firewitch’ pinks, and creeping or prostrate varieties are good-looking as floor covers and in rockeries when interspersed with alpine pinks.
You will discover upright rosemary seeds out there at True Leaf Market and container vegetation of ‘Prostratus’, a creeping selection, at Nature Hills Nursery.
Be taught extra about this herb and its many makes use of in our information.
26. Sage
A staple in kitchen gardens, culinary sage can also be extremely decorative with its frosty gray-green foliage and mid-sized spires of fairly blue, mauve, pink, or white flowers in late spring.
Sage (Salvia officinalis) appeals as a shimmering, low barrier and is engaging within the entrance or center of blended beds, foundations, and islands with ethereal Deptford or maiden pinks, or as a standalone specimen in rockeries with alpine and Cheddar pinks.
Packets of natural broadleaf sage seeds are out there by means of Botanical Pursuits.
Wish to be taught extra about rising sage? Our complete information has what you want.
27. Thyme
One other kitchen backyard mainstay, low-growing thyme (Thymus spp.) vegetation are lined with tiny mauve, pink, rose, or white flowers in mid to late spring.
The culinary varieties – English, French, and German thyme – are charming in borders, in containers, or within the forefront of blended beds alternating with clumps of carnations, China pinks, or candy william.
And creeping varieties make glorious floor covers and rockery vegetation, swarming round clumps of alpine or ‘Firewitch’ pinks.
You will discover widespread thyme (T. vulgaris) seeds out there at True Leaf Market.
Discover extra details about rising thyme right here.
28. Winter Savory
An herb with piquant taste, winter savory (Satureja montana) is low rising, forming mounds or clumps and options vivid inexperienced leaves with small white or lilac flowers in early to midsummer.
It provides glorious foliage to blended containers with Deptford or giant pinks and makes a reasonably cushion plant for patterning with alpine or Cheddar pinks in beds, borders, and rockeries.
Container vegetation of winter savory are out there at Burpee.
Be taught extra about this herb in our information.
Shrubs
Dianthus additionally makes engaging underplantings for shrubs in perennial beds, islands, and foundations.
Listed here are some best choices:
29. American Beautyberry
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a midsized shrub that works massed into drifts or behind beds and borders.
The small pink flowers kind in July on the base of the leaves – but it surely’s the dazzling clusters of lilac berries that steal the present in late summer time by means of fall.
So as to add earlier colour to beautyberry plantings, add taller dianthus varieties, similar to carnations, China pinks, or candy william – beautyberry’s vibrant, toothed foliage makes the pink and pink tones stand out.
American beautyberry shrubs in nursery containers are out there at Quick Rising Bushes.
We’ve got a information to rising American beautyberry right here.
30. Boxwood
A flexible evergreen, boxwood (Buxus spp.) is excellent for including construction to formal gardens as trim, geometric edging, hedges, topiary items, or in containers and knot gardens.
In casual gardens, boxwood works as a sprawling shrub or floor cowl.
Crisply clipped edges, hedges, and sculpted requirements are softened with a mounded border of Cheddar or China pinks.
And you may add quirky attraction to boxwood floor covers with islands of backyard pinks planted into “wells” of the simply trimmed foliage.
Nursery containers of the compact English boxwood ‘Suffruticosa’ (B. sempervirens) could be discovered at Quick Rising Bushes.
Want extra information about rising boxwood? Our information has you lined.
31. Forsythia
When forsythia (Forsythia spp.) is in full bloom, the plenty of sunshine-yellow flowers are a sight to behold.
The lengthy, arching branches could be left untrimmed for a pure, wild look, or clipped into manageable sizes for obstacles, hedges, and seasonal screens.
After flowering in spring, you possibly can add summer time colour to your forsythia stands by planting with midsized dianthus varieties similar to Deptford, backyard, or giant pinks.
You will discover ‘Lynwood Gold,’ a shocking forsythia cultivar out there at Nature Hills.
Our forsythia rising guides have a wealth of details about these shrubs.
32. Lilac
Flowering in spring, lilac (Syringa spp.) shrubs produce giant panicles of attractive magenta, mauve, purple, and white flowers with a pleasant perfume.
Sensational as borders, hedges, specimens, and even container vegetation, you possibly can add curiosity to your lilac stands with a hoop of mounding Cheddar or China pinks so as to add vivid colour and scent over the summer time months.
You will discover the favored widespread purple lilac (S. vulgaris), out there at Nature Hills Nursery.
Need assistance along with your lilacs? You will discover what you want right here.
33. Rose
With hundreds of cultivars in an enormous vary of colours, types, and sizes, roses (Rosa spp.) are a backyard basic with sweetly aromatic (or not, when you choose) flowers from spring by means of summer time.
A gorgeous addition to borders, hedges, islands, foundations, and cottage gardens, an understory planting of backyard pinks or candy william is a superb method so as to add a showy splash of colour, attraction, and curiosity to rose beds.
Quite a few rose cultivars from dwarf varieties to climbers could be discovered at Quick Rising Bushes.
And we’ve got a big choice of guides to rising roses that may provide help to out.
34. Tree Peony
Tree peonies (Paeonia hybrids) function attractive, scalloped flowers in colours of pink, rose, white, and yellow that bloom in late spring with a deep, candy perfume.
In contrast to the herbaceous varieties that die again in winter, these small deciduous shrubs keep a woody framework all 12 months, with engaging gentle inexperienced, lobed foliage that leafs out in April.
Ideally suited as borders, hedges, small teams, or specimens, the good-looking body is ideal for underplanting with unfastened, ethereal Deptford or giant pinks or banked with vivid candy william.
‘Shimadaijin’ Japanese Tree Peony
Naked root vegetation of the magenta Japanese cultivar, ‘Shimadaijin,’ are out there at Burpee.
If you wish to be taught extra about cultivating tree peonies, our information has you lined.
35. Viburnum
A extremely numerous group of widespread evergreen shrubs, viburnum (Viburnum spp.) has leathery foliage and spicily scented pink or white flower clusters in late spring, and a few produce engaging berries as nicely.
Utilized in settings similar to borders, hedges, screens, or as specimens, viburnum’s engaging foliage makes a perfect background for mounding dianthus like ‘Firewitch’ or Cheddar pinks.
You will discover a pleasant choice of viburnum shrubs at Quick Rising Bushes, together with Korean Spice (V. carlesii), which sports activities pink and white blooms.
You possibly can be taught extra about rising viburnum shrubs in our information.
Pleasant Blended Plantings
With their fairly fringed flowers and excellent scent, dianthus make a superb addition to blended plantings in a wide range of settings.
Bear in mind to decide on companions with comparable solar and water necessities for simple upkeep and groupings that thrive.
What are a few of your favourite dianthus combos? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.
And for extra concepts to create blended plantings, add these guides to your studying record subsequent:
