Fringed pink
Dianthus superbus
Family: Caryophyllaceae
What it is like
A herb which forms mats. It grows up to 60 cm tall. The leaves are pale green-grey. The flower stems are slender. The flowers are mauve-pink. They have a green or purple "eye" at the centre. The flowers are large and have an aroma. They have 5 petals and are deeply and irregularly split.
There are 320 Dianthus species.
Where it is found
It grows in wooded hills, forest openings and margins, grassy hillsides, meadows, mountain valley streams, river banks between 400–3700 m altitude in China. It is frost hardy. It can thrive in damp situations. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. In Yunnan and Sichuan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Central Asia, China, Europe (country/location of origin), Indochina, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Slovenia, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The leaves and young plant are cooked and eaten. The flowers are sucked for the nectar.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
čudoviti nageljček, Nadeshiko, Qu mai