How big does Cottage pink grow?

About 30 cm × 50 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 15–60 cm × 30–60 cm.

What soil does Cottage pink grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Is Cottage pink hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Cottage pink toxic to dogs?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to dogs.

Is Cottage pink toxic to cats?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to cats.

When does Cottage pink flower?

Flowering: May–August, pink, white, red.

How much water does Cottage pink need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Cottage pink

Dianthus plumarius

Cottage pink (Dianthus plumarius) is a perennial that reaches 30 cm × 50 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Mildly toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €4.

Illustration of Cottage pink — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

An old cottage garden favourite: its grey, grassy leaves form a dense cushion all year, and in early summer it is covered in fringed, clove-scented pink, white or red flowers. Give it full sun and lean, limy or neutral soil that drains very freely, at the front of a border, in a rock garden or on top of a retaining wall; it cannot stand sitting wet in winter. After a few years the clump goes bare and thin in the middle, so it pays to renew it from cuttings in summer.

Watch out for

The most common failure is crown rot: in heavy, wet soil that stays damp in winter the cushion browns in patches and dies, so plant it in a gritty, open mix and do not cover it with moisture-holding mulch. It is short-lived, going bare after 3 to 5 years, and has to be renewed from cuttings. It dislikes very hot, humid summers, when flowering stops early. Slugs, aphids, thrips and spider mites can damage it.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 30 cm × 50 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–August, pink, white, red

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	30 cm × 50 cm
Ultimate size	15–60 cm × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	May–August, pink, white, red
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	30 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic
For cats	Mildly toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €4

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
10-15 cm	approx. €4

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Perennials for full sun Perennials that flower all summer Evergreen plants Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers Plants for a Mediterranean garden Fragrant plants Fragrant perennials

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