''Dianthus superbus'', the fringed pink or large pink, is a species of ''

Dianthus ''Dianthus'' () is a genus of about 340 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 (''D. repens'') in arctic North A ...

'' native to

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located enti ...

and northern

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an ...

, from northernmost

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

north to arctic

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

, and east to Japan; in the south of its range, it occurs at high altitudes, up to 2,400 m.Den Virtuella Floran
''Dianthus superbus'' (in Swedish, with maps)
/ref>Flora Europaea
''Dianthus superbus''
/ref>Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. Euro+Med Plantbase Project
''Dianthus superbus''
It is a

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition ...

perennial plant A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

growing to 80 cm tall. The leaves are green to greyish green, slender, up to 8 cm long. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

s are sweetly scented, 3–5 cm in diameter, with five deeply cut fringed petals, pink to lavender with a greenish base; they are produced in branched clusters at the top of the stems from early to late summer.Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan. . There are six subspecies: *''Dianthus superbus'' subsp. ''superbus''. Most of the species' range. *''Dianthus superbus'' subsp. ''autumnalis'' Oberd. Southwestern France. *''Dianthus superbus'' subsp. ''sylvestris'' Čelak. Germany. *''Dianthus superbus'' subsp. ''alpestris'' Kablík. ex Čelak. (syn. ''D. s''. subsp. ''speciosus''). Alps, Carpathians, at high altitudes. Shorter stems; leaves greyer; flowers large. *''Dianthus superbus'' subsp. ''stenocalyx'' (Trautv. ex Juz.) Kleopow. Southern Russia, Ukraine. *''Dianthus superbus'' subsp. ''longicalycinus'' (Maxim.) Kitam. Japan. Also called . It is the only food source of the large moth '' Coleophora musculella''.

Cultivation and uses

Dianthus 'Tatra Ghost' (SG) (30389744122)

''Dianthus superbus'' is a popular garden plant and several

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...

s and

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

s have been selected, with flower colour varying from white to red or purple, usually with a green centre. It thrives in ordinary to dry soil in full sun; partial shade is preferred in hot climates. It is self-sowing and can be propagated by seed, by division of the roots, layering of the stems or cuttings from growing shoots. Deadheading extends the blooming period. The flowers sit atop stems approximately 25–45 cm tall, while the gray-green linear leaves form a mat at the base of the plant 20–30 cm wide. Because ''D. superbus'' is low to the ground, those who want to enjoy its fragrance find planting it in groups desirable. The leaves are edible when young, and can be eaten when boiled. The flowers contain sweet nectar, and the foliage can be eaten or boiled to make a drink. The plant contains toxic

saponin Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...

s, but not enough to be harmful. It has historically been used in

Chinese herbology Chinese herbology () is the theory of traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A ''Nature (journal), Nature'' editorial described TCM as "fraught with pseudoscience ...

as a

contraceptive Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth cont ...

diuretic A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics in ...

, and anti-infective; its Chinese name is ''qúmài'' (瞿麦).Plants for a Future
''Dianthus superbus''
/ref>

Cultural significance

The ''

yamato nadeshiko ''Yamato nadeshiko'' ( or ) is a Japanese term meaning the "personification of an idealized Japanese woman", or "the epitome of pure, feminine beauty"; poised, decorous, kind, gentle, graceful, humble, patient, virtuous, respectful, ben ...

'' (''D. superbus longicalycinus'') is metaphorically associated with traditional, idealized feminine beauty, in Japanese culture.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q161878 superbus