Maiden pinks are natives of Europe and western Asia. They have become
naturalized in much of North America. The genus Dianthus translates to
"divine flower." The species, deltoides, means the Greek letter
delta (Δ), perhaps a reference to the narrowly triangular leaves. There are many cultivated varieties of these plants,
endless variations in size and color, especially reds. But natural pinks are pink, or occasionally lavender
or white.
Plants: 6-18″ (15-45 cm) in height.
Leaves: Narrow, bluish, and grasslike.
Flowers: Flowers are ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) across, bright pink
(sometimes lavender or white), with
five petals. Flowers have a starlike ring near the center, and petals have serrated tips.
These pinks flowers from May to July.
7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Vermont · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
6/19/2017 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
This compares maiden pinks to the closely related Deptford pinks:
½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) across, bright pink (sometimes lavendar or white), with five petals. They have a starlike ring near the center, and petals have serrated tips. Fowers from May to July.
I wonder how this managed to bloom in a mowed lawn. · 8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)
6/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain
7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Vermont · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
Dianthus deltoides L.ssp. deltoides
Dianthus deltoides description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.