Dianthus 'Whatfield Magenta'

Dianthus 'Whatfield Magenta' is a perennial from the Caryophyllaceae family, a cultivar obtained by Joy Jones in Whatfield, Suffolk, England, where several alpine pinks were selected in the 1980s and 1990s within this garden, which has become a reference for rock garden enthusiasts. Its exact hybrid origin is not precisely documented.

It forms a low and spreading tuft, with fine linear foliage of a characteristic blue-gray, which strongly contrasts with the intensity of the flowering. The height in flowers remains modest, around 10 to 15 cm, with a spreading and generous habit.

The flowers are a bright and strong magenta, almost garish in the sun, with slightly toothed and slightly crinkled petals, borne in large quantities above the grayish cushion. It is precisely this association between the silvery foliage and the saturated color of the flowers that makes it successful among collectors. In cultivation, the main flowering extends from May to July, with sometimes a resurgence at the end of summer.

It requires well-drained soil, poor to moderately fertile, in full sun. Cultivation in an alpine trough or rocky scree suits it perfectly. It is sensitive to excess winter moisture at the collar.