Dianthus superbus BO-15-070

'Fringed Pink'

[Sichuan, China at 3250m]

Caryophyllaceae: an herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80cm tall. Woody hills and dry meadows. Flowers are sweetly scented, 3–5cm in diameter, with five deeply cut fringed petals, pink to lavender with a greenish base; they are produced in branched clusters at the top of the stems. Blooming from June-September. The leaves are green to greyish green, slender, up to 8cm long. Native to Europe and northern Asia, from northernmost Spain and France north to arctic Norway, and east to Japan.

USES:

The leaves are edible when young and can be eaten when boiled. The flowers contain sweet nectar, and the foliage can be eaten or boiled to make a drink.

It has historically been used in Chinese herbology as a contraceptive, diuretic, and anti-infective; its Chinese name is qúmài (瞿麦).

The Yamato nadeshiko, (D. superbus ssp. longicalycinus), is metaphorically associated with traditional, idealized feminine beauty, in Japanese culture.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Surface sow seeds, these should germinate in 1 - 2 weeks warm. Plants prefer an alkaline soil but will tolerate a slightly acid soil. Succeeds in any well-drained peaty soil in sun or light shade. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -20°C. A flowers have a wonderful sweet perfume.

Attractive to bees and butterflies.

HARVESTED: 2022*

APPROX. 50 SEEDS