Maiden pink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maiden pink |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dianthus
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| Species: |
deltoides
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The maiden pink, known scientifically as Dianthus deltoides, is a beautiful wild flower. It belongs to the Dianthus family, which includes many popular garden flowers like carnations. This plant is native to most parts of Europe and western Asia. You can also find it growing in many areas of North America, but there it was brought by people, so it's an introduced species.
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What is the Maiden Pink?
The maiden pink is a type of herbaceous perennial plant. This means it's a plant that doesn't have a woody stem above ground, and it lives for more than two years. It can grow up to 45 centimeters (about 1.5 feet) tall.
What Does it Look Like?
This plant has very narrow leaves that can be green or a slightly blue-green color, which is called glaucous. These leaves grow in loose clumps. The flowers are quite small, about 15–20 millimeters (0.6–0.8 inches) across. They are usually a lovely pink color, but sometimes you might find white ones. Often, the flowers have small white spots.
The maiden pink has special leaf-like parts called epicalyx or bracteoles right below its main flower cup, which is called the calyx. The calyx tube itself is not papery or thin where its parts join together.
Where Does it Grow?
You can often find the maiden pink growing in calcareous grassland. This is a type of grassy area where the soil has a lot of chalk or limestone. It can also grow on rocky ground. Sometimes, it even pops up on old mine spoil, which is the leftover rock and soil from mining. Interestingly, the maiden pink has been seen to mix and create new plants with another type of Dianthus, called Dianthus barbatus, when both grow in the same area.
Maiden Pink in Your Garden
The maiden pink is a very popular plant for gardens. Many different types, called cultivars, have been developed from it. For example, 'Zing Rose' is a well-known cultivar. These garden plants have flowers in various shades of pink and sometimes have darker green leaves, making them very attractive. In the United Kingdom, the maiden pink has even won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means it's an excellent plant for gardeners to grow.
