Dianthus armeria L.
Deptford pink
Deptford pinks occur through most of North America. They are named for Deptford, in London, where they were once commonplace near the Thames river.
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Maiden pinks are closely related to Deptford pinks. |
Plants: When not in bloom, this diminutive plant is easily overlooked. The plants can reach 2½′ (76 cm) in height, but I rarely see these thin plants above 1′ (30 cm) or so.
Leaves: Grass-like, hairy, dark green, and 3 ⨉ ⅛″ (7.6 cm ⨉ 3.2 mm).
Flowers: 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.)
Fruits: An oval to cylindric capsule about as long as the calyx, open at the top with 4 teeth around the mouth, containing numerous tiny, blackish-brown seeds.
Habitats: Meadows, disturbed areas, roadsides.
Edibility: Like most pinks, these contain saponins, and are not edible.
Online References:
Dianthus armeria L. ssp. armeria
6/26/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 3″ (7.4 × 8.4 cm) 
6/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
7/13/2024 · Amici's Restaurant, West Stockbridge, Massachusetts 
7/11/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near NH Line, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 3″ (8.7 × 8.2 cm) 
6/27/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1½″ (4.2 × 4.3 cm) 
6/26/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 1¾ × 2″ (4.8 × 5.4 cm) 
7/22/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 8 cm) 
6/22/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts 
6/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 3″ (5.5 × 7.5 cm) 
6/26/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 2″ (6.5 × 5.6 cm) 
7/3/2005 · Pepperell, Massachusetts 
7/27/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 2½″ (8.3 × 7.1 cm) 
7/22/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 2 × 2½″ (6 × 7.1 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 · ≈ 2 × 2″ (5.5 × 5.6 cm) 
7/7/2026 · Butler Head Preserve, Bath, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm) 
7/12/2013 · Wooden Bridge, East Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 5″ (14 × 13 cm) 
6/27/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 2½″ (9.9 × 6.7 cm) 
6/27/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Na, Ayer, Massachusetts 
7/4/2013 · Maine · ≈ 4 × 4″ (10 × 11 cm) 
7/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 3½″ (7.1 × 9.2 cm) 
8/7/2017 · Groton Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 4″ (9.2 × 9.9 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| 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 |
Dianthus armeria description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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