Dianthus 'Kahori'

Questions about dianthus 'Kahori'

Does dianthus 'Kahori' need sun or shade?

Dianthus 'Kahori' grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day).

It wants ordinary well-drained soil, of average fertility, and little watering once settled.

What zones does dianthus 'Kahori' grow in?

USDA zones 4 to 9. It is hardy to zone 4, which means it survives winter nights down to about −20 °F (−29 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does dianthus 'Kahori' flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers mid May to early September. As a spring flower it moves about a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer, later where it is colder.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should dianthus 'Kahori' be planted?

12 in (30 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 14 in (35 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 8 in (20 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many dianthus 'Kahori' plants do I need?

At 12 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 12 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 11 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 38 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as runs of three or five along the front (or one even row, in a formal bed).

In the bed above, the planner used three in one group.

Is dianthus 'Kahori' poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes: mild toxicity to people, dogs, cats and horses. May cause mild stomach upset if eaten. Handling the plant can irritate skin.

Rated from the ASPCA. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like dianthus 'Kahori'?

These come closest to doing what dianthus 'Kahori' does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• Bloody cranesbill 'Max Frei': the same job in a bed, the same size and the same colour; flowers late May to early August, not evergreen.
• Sea thrift: the same job in a bed, the same size and the same colour; flowers early May to mid June, wants dry soil.
• Wall germander: the same job in a bed and the same colour; 4 in taller, flowers late June to early August.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

What flowers after dianthus 'Kahori'?

Dianthus 'Kahori' is over by early September. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Garden chrysanthemum: from mid September to late October, 24 in tall.
• Meadow saffron: from mid September to mid October, 6 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.
• Autumn crocus: from mid September to mid October, 5 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.

What does dianthus 'Kahori' look like in winter?

Dianthus 'Kahori' keeps its grey-green leaves all winter, so it is one of the plants that hold a bed together from November to March, when the perennials have gone.