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 chinensis – Double Gaiety Mix is an old fashioned favourite with deeply frilled and sweetly scented blooms. These easy to grow plants produce beautiful masses of double flowers in shades of pink, red and white. They are excellent for use in beds, borders, containers and rockeries. Plants are long bloomers through summer and autumn and the stems are excellent for fragrant, long-lasting and attractive cut flowers. Technically a biennial and sometimes a short lived perennial, this variety are quick to bloom from seed and are most often grown as an annual. Plants are compact at 30-40 cm high.