I love the scent of Dianthus and in the first fall after our arrival I planted five Dianthus gratianopolitanus – thinking that they would be drought- and heat-resistant, based on my Swiss gardening experience.
Alas, I now know that this plant is native to low mountain ranges of central and western Europe – not to low-lying Mediterranean regions. Accordingly they all died sooner or later, after yielding a total of two flowers.
Once I have a bit more shade in the garden I may try Dianthus corsicus and/or anatolicus for their fragrance or Dianthus fruticosus or arenarius for its summer to late summer bloom and drought resistance.
Dianthus carthusianorum and lusitanus are also supposedly quite drought-resistant but just not as showy as the other varieties.
To be continued…
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