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Dianthus deltoides L.

Maiden pink

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassCaryophyllidaeCacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
OrderCaryophyllalesIncludes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
FamilyCaryophyllaceaePink or carnation family
GenusDianthusFrom the Greek dios, “divine,” and anthos, “flower”: the divine flower or flower of Zeus
SpeciesdeltoidesShaped like the Greek letter “delta” (Δ)

About plant names...

Maiden pinks are natives of Europe and western Asia. They have become naturalized in much of North America. The genus Dianthus translates to "divine flower." The species, deltoides, means the Greek letter delta (Δ), perhaps a reference to the narrowly triangular leaves. There are many cultivated varieties of these plants, endless variations in size and color, especially reds. But natural pinks are pink, or occasionally lavender or white.

Plants: 6-18″ (15-45 cm) in height.

Leaves: Narrow, bluish, and grasslike.

Flowers: Flowers are ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) across, bright pink (sometimes lavender or white), with five petals. Flowers have a starlike ring near the center, and petals have serrated tips. These pinks flowers from May to July.

 

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Ver­mont · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

6/19/2017 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

This compares maiden pinks to the closely related Deptford pinks:

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Dianthus deltoides

Dianthus armeria
Common Name

maiden pink

Deptford pink
Plant 6-18″ (15-45 cm) in height. 1-2½′ (30-76 cm) in height.
Flowers ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) across, bright pink (sometimes lavendar or white), with five petals. They have a starlike ring near the center, and petals have serrated tips. Fowers from May to July. Smaller, ¼″ (8.5 mm) around, bright pink, petals with serrated tips.
Leaves Narrow, bluish, grasslike leaves. Grass-like, 3″ (7.6 cm) × ⅛″ (3.2 mm).
Range/ Zones

Habitats Fields, roadsides, waste places. Meadows, disturbed areas, roadsides.
Type Wild Wild

 

Online References:

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

WikiBooks.org

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

TrekNature

The University of Massachusetts Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Program

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

6/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

7/6/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

I wonder how this managed to bloom in a mowed lawn. · 8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

6/12/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Ver­mont · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)

Dianthus deltoides L. ssp. deltoides

 

Dianthus deltoides description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

7/1/2012 · Blue/Yellow Trail, Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

7/6/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

6/19/2017 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink)

7/13/2015 · Mt. Ascutney State Park, Ascutney, Ver­mont · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 22 cm)

Range:

About this map...