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Dianthus turkestanicus - Sand Pink from Quackin Grass Nursery

Dianthus turkestanicus - We believe this to be Dianthus turkestanicus. If not, it is much like Dianthus turkestanicus. It might also be a pure white form of D. caryophyllus. Our charge sports a tight 1 to 2-inch mat of steely blue foliage - evergreen at least in USDA 5b. In May / June wiry stems arise to about 10-inches sporting "purply" calyxes. What follows is beautiful: Five-petaled pure white fringed flowers en masse form a clean, white froth floating above the gray basal pool. Each flower is perfumed should you genuflect or, more likely, happen to near tearing up pervasive weedsaway from this rug forming treasure. It flowers for 3 to 4 weeks. What remains is the good looking steel blue mat. And here in USDA zone 5b it's completely evergreen. The mat slowly expands through the years gradually becoming impressive. We find this handsome, simple perennial to be endearing channeling pure charm. Some of those big, gaudy flower trade staples are fine in a bouquet ("OFF with their heads"). But this modest beauty belongs in the rock garden mix where it can simply be unmolested. In the case of D. caryophylla its origins are fuzzy; Mediterranean, generally but this sweetie has been cultivated for centuries and undoubtedly has spread beyond its origination. D. turkestanicus is of Asia Minor descent. Found in the Full, blazing sun in scrabbled sandy soil. Add lime. Established potted perennial.