Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

Dianthus deltoides L.

Dianthus deltoides L. ssp. deltoides

Maiden pink

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Caryophyllidae	Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order	Caryophyllales	Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family	Caryophyllaceae	Pink or carnation family
Genus	Dianthus	From the Greek dios, “divine,” and anthos, “flower”: the divine flower or flower of Zeus
Species	deltoides	Shaped like the Greek letter “delta” (Δ)

About plant names...

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, VT
≈ 4 × 4" (10 × 11 cm)

6/19/2017 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, MA
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

This compares maiden pinks to the closely related Deptford pinks:

	You are here Dianthus deltoides	*Dianthus armeria*
Common Name	maiden pink	Deptford pink
Plant	6-18" (15-45 cm) in height.	12-30" (30-76 cm) in height.
Flowers	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.	*Smaller,* ¼" (8.5 mm) around, bright pink, petals with serrated tips.
Leaves	Narrow, bluish, grasslike leaves.	Grass-like, 3" (7.6 cm) × ⅛" (3.2 mm).
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Fields, roadsides, waste places.	Meadows, disturbed areas, roadsides.
Type	Wild	Wild

Online References:

Dianthus deltoides at the University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

Dianthus deltoides on WikiBooks.org

Dianthus deltoides on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Dianthus deltoides on TrekNature

Dianthus deltoides on the University of Massachusetts Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Program

7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, MA
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain

6/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

7/6/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, MA
≈ 4½ × 3½" (12 × 9.0 cm)

I wonder how this managed to bloom in a mowed lawn. · 8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, MA
≈ 3 × 2½" (7.6 × 6.7 cm)

6/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, MA
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain

7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, VT
≈ 6 × 4" (16 × 10 cm)

Dianthus deltoides description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, MA
≈ 17 × 12" (44 × 29 cm)

7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, MA
≈ 4 × 4" (10 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

7/6/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, MA
≈ 5 × 5" (13 × 13 cm)

6/19/2017 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, MA
≈ 3 × 3" (7.4 × 7.6 cm)

7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, VT
≈ 6 × 8" (15 × 20 cm)

Range:

About this map...