Hairy garden pink is a short-lived herbaceous perennial native to eastern Europe where it grows in grassy places and scrub. It belongs to the carnation family that includes baby’s breath, soapwort, and Lychnis. Wiry upright stems carry sparse distributed gray-green leaves ¼ inch wide and two to three inches long. The light yellow flowers appear in summer and persist for four to six weeks. They are toothed, ¾ inch wide, lack fragrance, and are produced in clusters of four to ten. They never put on a significant display and are best used in informal and cottage gardens.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Non fragrant pale yellow fringed flowers in clusters of four to ten in summer
Size: 15-24” H x 15” W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, mediummoist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Care: Deadhead to prolong flowering
Pests and Diseases: Aphids, slugs, rust, wilt
Propagation: Seed, stem cuttings in summer
Companion Plants: Bellflowers (Campanula spp.), daisies, evening primrose,
Lavender, sages (Salvia spp.), balloonflower
Karen Meyers