Dianthus plumarius

Dianthus plumarius

Dianthus plumarius – also called the common pink, garden pink, wild pink, or simply pink – is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. This pretty flower has bright, often fragrant petals in many colors. People have grown these plants for many years because they are tough and can survive in different places.

The common pink makes gardens and parks more beautiful, and its flowers can attract helpful insects. It is loved in many places where flowers are grown.

Description

Dianthus plumarius is a small, green plant that grows all year and reaches about 30 to 60 centimeters tall. It has thin, upright leaves and lovely pink flowers with five petals each. These flowers bloom from May through August. After the flowers fade, the plant creates small seed pods.

Distribution

The common pink, also called the garden pink or wild pink, grows naturally in Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia. It has also been found in Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

In the United States, this plant grows in many places, including Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York State, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and California.

Etymology

The name "pink" for the flower started in 1570. Soon after, it began to describe a soft red color we call pink today. We don’t know for sure if a tool called a pinking shear got its name from the flower or if the flower got its name from the tool.