The Rock Garden provides many groups of interesting plants to appreciate. In full bloom just now is Dianthus spiculifolius, a tight mound of cushion forming pointed leaves with a blue sheen.
The specimens in the Rock Garden were collected in the Pirin Mountains of south-west Bulgaria, but the species is endemic to the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and now showing variation in the flower colour within the batch of plants.
The five petals emerge rolled is a swirl formation, expanding to show their common feature: the feathered edge. A slight fragrance can be detected with the nostrils close by.
This is a worthwhile member of the genus to cultivate, reliable in flower and retaining its vegetative form.
Dianthus spiculifolius
Dianthus spiculifolius