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Dianthus 'Dunkirk Spirit' (pf)

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Characteristics

Plant type

Conservatory/Greenhouse or Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Bushy

Resilience

Hardiness

old H1+3 (required heated glass; may be grown outside in summer)

Colour

Flower

Orange and Red in Autumn, Spring, Summer and Winter

Foliage

Green and Grey/Silver in Autumn, Spring, Summer and Winter

Size

Ultimate height

0.5-1 metres

Ultimate spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2-5 years


Preferred common name

perpetually flowering carnation 'Dunkirk Spirit'

Family

Caryophyllaceae


Dianthus can be annuals, evergreen perennials or subshrubs with narrow, often greyish leaves and showy flowers that are frequently fragrant

Perpetual flowering carnations are half-hardy evergreen perennials grown under glass for cut flowers and for exhibition. Given temperatures above 10C, they can flower all year round, the blooms to 10cm across, sometimes scented

'Dunkirk Spirit' is a carnation with apricot-orange flowers, slightly flecked with red

How to grow

Sunlight

  • Full sun

Aspect

  • South-facing, East-facing or West-facing
  • Exposed or Sheltered

Cultivation

Grow under glass at 7 to 10 °C in a loam-based potting compost in bright filtered light with good ventilation. In winter provide low humidity and full light. When in growth water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 10 days

Soil

  • Moist but well-drained
  • Acid, Alkaline or Neutral
  • Sand, Chalk or Loam

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings of non-flowering shoots in late winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cut Flowers or Patio/Container Plants


How to care

Pruning

Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and promote a compact habit

Pests

Glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, thrips and tortrix moth may be a problem

Diseases

May be subject to a rust