Dwarf cultivar selected from the nanus form of Dianthus arenarius, 'Little Maiden' retains all the essential characteristics — bright green narrowly linear foliage forming a dense, low tuft, pure white flowers with petals deeply lacinated into fine strips — but in significantly reduced proportions. The plant hardly exceeds 10 to 15 cm in bloom, compared to 20 to 35 cm for the type species, making it particularly suitable for small rock garden spaces and alpine trough compositions.
The habit is remarkably compact and spreading: the fine and flexible flowering stems spread horizontally above the foliage cushion, giving the plant in full bloom a light and almost airy silhouette, like a white cloud resting on the rock. The flowers, borne individually on long slender stems, feature the same extreme petal cut as the species, with that feathery texture so characteristic of the group. The fragrance is sweet and subtle.
In cultivation, flowering occurs from June to July. Like Dianthus arenarius, this cultivar accepts acidic to neutral, sandy, and well-drained soils, in full sun. It stands out from most dwarf rock garden pinks by this tolerance to acidity, which broadens its use to gardens on non-calcareous substrate.