Electric Red Dianthus

Electric Red Dianthus (Dianthus 'Electric Red')

Electric Red Dianthus (Dianthus 'Electric Red') is a dazzling perennial prized for its intense scarlet-red blooms, compact habit, and delightful fragrance. Part of the modern generation of hardy Dianthus, this heat- and drought-tolerant selection brings consistent color and performance to borders, rock gardens, pollinator beds, and containers. Its evergreen, blue-green foliage forms a tidy mound, delivering year-round texture and structure even when not in bloom.

Distinctive Features

Electric Red bursts into bloom in late spring with a profusion of semi-double flowers in bold electric red. Each blossom features finely fringed petals that create a ruffled, textured appearance, enhanced by a pleasant clove-like scent typical of cottage pinks. With its compact, floriferous growth, this variety maintains a neat form while delivering repeated waves of flowers through summer with minimal deadheading. The persistent foliage provides an elegant contrast to the intense bloom color, making it a standout in any sunny garden setting.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun (at least 6+ hours daily) for best flowering and plant vigor
• Soil: Prefers well-drained soils; tolerates sandy or rocky conditions; performs best in neutral to alkaline pH
• Water: Moderate needs; drought tolerant once established; avoid overwatering and soggy soils
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

Ideal Uses

• Rock Gardens: Compact habit thrives in lean, sunny sites
• Border Fronts: Offers vivid color along garden edges
• Pollinator Gardens: Fragrant blooms attract bees and butterflies
• Containers: Excellent performance in pots and patio planters
• Cottage and Mediterranean Gardens: Perfect fit for classic and drought-tolerant themes

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply but infrequently; prefers to dry slightly between waterings
• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer
• Pruning: Lightly trim after main bloom flush to maintain shape and promote rebloom
• Winter Care: Evergreen in mild climates; protect from winter wet in colder zones

Why Choose Electric Red Dianthus?

• Bold Color Impact: Vivid scarlet-red blooms energize garden compositions
• Fragrant Flowers: Spicy clove scent enhances sensory appeal
• Extended Bloom Season: Flowers heavily from late spring through summer
• Drought & Heat Tolerant: Excellent for low-water landscapes
• Deer Resistant: Foliage and blooms are generally avoided by deer
• Pollinator Friendly: Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects

Dianthus 'Electric Red' brings vibrant, easy-care color and fragrance to sunny garden spaces. Compact, tough, and continuously blooming, it's a powerful performer in borders, rockeries, and containers - perfect for gardeners who want maximum impact with minimal effort.