Dianthus 'Eileen Lever'

Perennial cultivar of the Caryophyllaceae family, Dianthus 'Eileen Lever' is a British-origin garden hybrid, selected for rock garden and trough cultivation. Its exact parentage is not established with certainty, but its habit and foliage evoke dwarf alpine species such as Dianthus alpinus or Dianthus neglectus.

Outside of flowering, the plant forms a very tight and dense cushion, remarkably flat to slightly domed, only 5 to 10 cm in height, composed of short, needle-like, dark green leaves, tinged with reddish on the young shoots. The texture is almost mossy, and the cushion is compact enough to deserve attention even without flowers.

In bloom, the bright magenta-pink to lilac-pink flowers, with well-toothed petals, are produced in such abundance that they completely cover the foliage, transforming the cushion into a perfectly hemispherical mass of color. In cultivation, flowering extends from May to July.

It requires very well-drained soil, preferably calcareous or neutral, in full sun exposure. Sensitive to stagnant moisture in winter, it finds its best conditions in rock gardens, troughs, or between flat stones. It is one of the most appreciated dwarf carnations among alpine plant collectors for the regularity and generosity of its flowering.