Dianthus is a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native mainly to Europe and Asia, with a few species in North Africa and in Southern Africa, and one species in arctic North America. Common names include Carnation, Pink and Sweet William. The species are mostly herbaceous perennials, a few are annual or biennial, and some are low sub-shrubs with woody basal stems. The leaves are opposite, simple, mostly linear and often strongly glaucous grey green to blue green. The flowers have five petals, typically with a frilled or pinked margin, and are mostly pale to dark pink. One species, Dianthus knappii, has yellow flowers with a purple centre. Some species, particularly the perennial pinks, are noted for their strong aromatic fragrance often attracting butterflies to the garden.

Dianthus caespitosus is a South African endemic species found in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces. It forms a 30cm tufted to spreading perennial and in summer it bears showy pink flowers with serrated petals.