Dianthus armeria L.
Deptford 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 armeria Latinized from the old French name armoires for a cluster-headed dianthus, this is also the Latin name for the Dianthus
About plant names...
Deptford pinks occur through most of North America. They are named for Deptford, in London, where they were once commonplace near the Thames river.
6/26/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
This compares maiden pinks to the closely related Deptford pinks:
Dianthus deltoides
You are here Dianthus armeria
Common Name
maiden pink
Deptford pink
Plant
6-18″ (15-45 cm) in height.
1-2½′ (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
Identification: When not in bloom, this diminutive plant is easily overlooked. Fortunately it is almost always in bloom, and its five-petaled ¼″ (8.5 mm) pink flowers are unmistakable in their color, shape, and serrations. (Yes, the pinking shears used to cut zigzag edges for sewing are named for pinks.)
Deptford pinks love sunny meadows and disturbed areas. The plants can reach 2½′ (76 cm) in height, but I rarely see these thin plants above 1′ (30 cm) or so. Leaves are grass-like, 3″ (7.6 cm) × ⅛″ (3.2 mm).
Edibility: Like most pinks, these contain saponins , and are
not edible.
Online References:
Missouriplants.com
Illinois Wildflowers
Wikipedia
Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses
Wildflowers of the United States
The Oregon Flora Image Project
The Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide
6/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
7/11/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near NH Line, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 5″ (18 × 12 cm)
6/27/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
7/22/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 3½″ (14 × 9.4 cm)
6/22/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
6/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
6/26/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm)
7/3/2005 · Pepperell, Massachusetts
7/27/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Dianthus armeria L. ssp. armeria
Dianthus armeria description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 14 Aug 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
7/22/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
7/8/2016 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
Usually these have five petals. · 6/24/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Ctr, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 16 cm)
7/12/2013 · Wooden Bridge, East Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)
6/27/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)
6/27/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Na, Ayer, Massachusetts
7/4/2013 · Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
7/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm)
8/7/2017 · Groton Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)
Range:
About this map...
Home   
Species