# Deptford pink (*Dianthus armeria*) The Deptford pink is a pretty flower with bright pink petals. It grows in fields and along roadsides, bringing color to nature. These flowers are loved by butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 27 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Deptford pink](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Dianthus_armeria_-_Plant_habit.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Dianthus_armeria_-_Plant_habit.jpg) ## Appearance The Deptford pink has small, vibrant pink flowers, each with five petals that feature jagged, 'frilly' edges. These blooms are often speckled with tiny darker dots and grow on slender, hairy stems, making it distinct from many other wildflowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Caryophyllaceae - **Genus:** Dianthus ## Interesting facts - Its Latin name 'armeria' means 'clump of pinks', describing how flowers grow together. - Its spotted petals look like tiny sprinkles, making them appear like a sweet treat! - Often confused with wild carnations, it's smaller and has unique spotted petals! - One plant can produce hundreds of tiny seeds, ensuring its Deptford pink's survival! ## Special abilities - **Hairy Stem Shield:** Its rough, hairy stems deter some grazing animals and help protect against small insect pests. - **Seed Spreader:** It produces many tiny seeds, easily dispersed by wind or sticking to animals, helping it spread quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** Small Cabbage White (*Pieris rapae*) — sips nectar from its blooms - **Eats:** Grain Aphid (*Sitobion avenae*) — feeds on plant sap from stems - **Eats:** Common Pollen Beetle (*Meligethes aeneus*) — consumes pollen and petals ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not pick flowers without asking an adult first, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Deptford pink? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Deptford pink? 15-60 cm ### How wide does Deptford pink spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Deptford pink? 1-1.5 cm ### When does Deptford pink bloom? Summer ### Is Deptford pink edible? Yes ### Is Deptford pink toxic? None ### What is Deptford pink's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Brookside Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookside-reservation) — Ohio, US · Park - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Delaware and Raritan Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-and-raritan-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Duke Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/duke-gardens) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [East Windsor Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-windsor-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Deptford pink](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/deptford-pink) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Deptford pink: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deptford-pink)