When their bright red flowers float over dry meadows, gravel beds and prairie gardens, we want to enjoy this splendor next year too. The question is therefore obvious as to whether the heather carnation is frost-resistant. Read here what the winter hardiness of a Dianthus deltoides is like. Benefit from our tips for a successful wintering.
Is the heather carnation hardy?
The heath carnation (Dianthus deltoides) is hardy and can survive temperatures of up to -40 degrees Celsius. Light winter protection is recommended in the first year of planting. Additional protective measures should be taken in the pot or balcony box, such as moving it to a protected house wall and insulating the container.
Native perennial with reliable winter hardiness
The heather pink is native to Germany and all of Europe, so it is well adapted to the adverse weather conditions of winter. Botanists assign the perennial to winter hardiness zone Z3. This category includes all plants that can easily survive temperatures of up to -40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, no special precautions need to be taken before winter.
Light winter protection makes sense in the year of planting
The heather carnation only develops its stable frost resistance over the course of its first two years of growth. Perennials planted in autumn should therefore be protected from severe frost. Cover the root disk with autumn leaves or pine needles to protect the young plants from the rigors of the cold season. Alternatively, spread a breathable fleece over the planting site.
This is how the heather carnation overwinters in the pot and balcony box
In the pot and flower box, the root ball is in a vulnerable position behind the container walls. While heather carnations in the bed can rely on the protection of the soil, this does not apply to balcony plants. How to ensure overwintering in the planter:
- Relocate the bucket and balcony box in front of the south wall of the house
- Place on a wooden block or Styrofoam plate
- Cover the vessel with jute, fleece or foil
- Pile up leaves, pine needles or straw on the substrate
Please put small pots and flower boxes in the bright, frost-free winter quarters. Here you water the heather clove every now and then so that the root ball does not dry out. Since the flower does not shed its foliage in winter, evaporation continues. The plant does not receive fertilizer in winter.
Tip
In 2012, the Loki Schmidt Foundation named the heather carnation as the flower of the year. The aim of the appointment was to draw attention to the wonderful attributes and threatened habitat of Dianthus deltoides. By planting the delicate flower with bright red blossoms in your garden, you are helping to preserve it.
