Dianthus 'Rainbow Loveliness'

This antique Dianthus variety produces an abundance of deeply fringed, sweetly fragrant blooms. The scent is often compared to carnation, jasmine, and rose. Flowers appear in a wide range of colors, including lilac, rose, carmine, white, and purple. Some blooms may be bicolored or display contrasting eyes or rings.

In late spring, plants form attractive blue-green mounds of foliage topped with masses of edible flowers. The petals, with a mild clove-like flavor, make a colorful garnish for salads, desserts, and cold drinks. (Note: the flower's central disk is edible but can taste bitter.) Butterflies are drawn to the profuse blooms.

A compact, short-lived perennial, this Dianthus will often flower in its first year and may be grown as an annual. It has been cultivated since the 1920s and remains a popular choice for old-fashioned cottage gardens, perennial borders, cutting gardens, and romantic garden designs.