Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus
Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus
Fragrant Peachy-Pink Blooms With a Rosy Eye
Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus (Dianthus 'Georgia Peach Pie') serves up soft peachy-pink, clove-scented flowers brushed with a rosy-red eye, over a neat cushion of blue-green foliage. Blooming heavily in late spring and reblooming through summer, it's tough, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, with semi-evergreen foliage. A warm, fragrant front-of-border favorite for sunny beds and rock gardens in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.
Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Dianthus 'Georgia Peach Pie' |
| Mature Size | 6–10 in. tall, 10–12 in. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 4–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Full sun (6+ hours) |
| Bloom Time | Late spring, reblooming through summer |
| Flower Color | Peachy-pink with a rosy-red eye, clove-scented |
| Soil | Well-drained; dislikes wet, heavy soil — add grit to clay |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to about -25°F; semi-evergreen foliage |
| Deer Resistance | Rarely browsed by deer or rabbits |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Fragrant edging and rock gardens: The soft peach tones and neat cushion make a charming front-of-border edge. Space 10–12 inches apart.
Pollinator and deer-resistant beds: Butterflies visit the fragrant blooms, and deer leave it alone. Pair with catmint, salvia, and sedum.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall. Sharp drainage is essential — avoid wet, heavy soil, especially over winter.
How to Plant Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus
Dig a hole twice the pot's width at the same depth. Amend heavy clay with grit or coarse sand. Set the crown at or slightly above soil level, backfill, water in, and mulch lightly with grit — keep mulch off the crown to prevent rot. Space 10–12 inches apart.
Watering Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus
First year: Water every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Drought-tolerant — water only during extended dry spells. Overwatering and wet soil are its main enemies.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Yes — hardy to about zone 4 with sharp drainage; plant where water doesn't pool over winter.
Q: Is it fragrant?
Yes — the flowers carry the classic sweet, spicy clove scent of pinks.
Q: How do I keep it blooming?
Shear off spent flowers after the first flush to encourage rebloom through summer.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Yes — deer and rabbits rarely bother dianthus.
You May Also Like
Bumbleberry Pie Dianthus (Dianthus): A berry-purple bloomer from the same playful series.
Sedum (Hylotelephium): A drought-tough, deer-resistant partner.
Catmint (Nepeta): Blue spikes that contrast the peachy blooms.
How Many Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus Do I Need?
This pinks forms a neat cushion spaced about 12 inches apart for a continuous fragrant edge. Use this guide for an edging run:
| Run / Bed Length | Plants Needed (at 12 in spacing) |
|---|---|
| 10 ft | 10 plants |
| 20 ft | 20 plants |
| 30 ft | 30 plants |
| 40 ft | 40 plants |
For pockets of color, plant in clusters of 3–5 along a path or at the front of a sunny bed.
Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Blue-green cushion greens up early and sets buds quickly.
- Summer: Heavy flush of clove-scented peachy-pink blooms in late spring; shear spent flowers for rebloom through summer.
- Fall: Sporadic late flowers continue while the tidy foliage cushion stays neat.
- Winter: Semi-evergreen blue-green foliage persists through winter with sharp drainage.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Bumbleberry Pie Dianthus — a berry-purple bloomer from the same playful Pie series
- Firewitch Dianthus — magenta-pink pinks that extend the fragrant, deer-proof edge
- Coral Reef Dianthus — coral-toned pinks for a blended front-border cushion
- Autumn Fire Sedum — drought-tough, deer-resistant partner with rosy fall heads
Is Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus Right for Your Yard?
Georgia Peach Pie thrives in full sun with sharply drained soil — perfect for rock gardens and the front of dry, sunny beds in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove. Not a fit if the soil is wet or heavy clay, especially over winter, where the crown rots; add grit to improve drainage.