Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius
Garden or cottage pink, Garden Or Cottage Pink
Ghislain118 (AD) http://www.fleurs-des-montagnes.net (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius (Garden or cottage pink) is a non-native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family.
Garden or cottage pink is a naturalized perennial found in southern California coastal areas (SCo) along roadsides and in old plantings at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers with darker centers, each bloom 8 to 15 millimeters across. Growing with slender rhizomes and erect stems 13 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms compact clumps in disturbed landscapes. Its narrow linear leaves are distinctively arranged along the stems, creating a delicate, grass-like appearance. The flower clusters emerge terminally, with each bract subtending the bloom and framing the pale, softly colored petals.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with no sympatric species in SCo region
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, persisting in old plantings
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: eastern North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius blooms Spring-summer.
How to tell it apart
vs Rosa: Dianthus has tubular flowers with 5 petals and green bracts; Rosa has flat flowers with many petals and compound leaves.; vs Pelargonium: Dianthus has radially symmetric tubular flowers; Pelargonium has bilaterally symmetric flowers in umbrella-like clusters.; vs Phlox: Dianthus has tubular flowers with green bracts at base; Phlox has flat-faced flowers without bracts and opposite leaves.; vs Clarkia: Dianthus has tubular flowers with many-veined tubes; Clarkia has 4-petaled flowers with inferior ovaries.; vs Portulaca: Dianthus has tubular flowers with green bracts; Portulaca has flat flowers and succulent leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius native to California?
No. Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius bloom?
Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius blooms Spring-summer.
What plant family does Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius belong to?
Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Dianthus.
What habitat does Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius grow in?
Dianthus plumarius subsp. plumarius grows in Roadsides, persisting in old plantings.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.