Maiden Pink

pinc / Dianthus deltoides

The Maiden Pinks edible flowers are traditionally used in herbal medicines as a remedy for colds, coughs and headaches. It is widely planted in UK gardens but has become scarce in the wild due to competition from faster-growing, taller grasses, making its conservation critical. The flowers of the Maiden Pink are particularly attractive to butterflies due to their tube-like shape, which is perfect for butterfly tongues but too long for other short-tongued insects.

Whilst hard to find, small populations of Maiden Pink can still be found locally in Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat and Wester Craiglockhart Hill on dry, sunny and rocky slopes.

Key Identification Features:

5 petals that are distinctively notched at the tips. They are usually rose-red or vibrant pink, occasionally white, and feature a ring of white or dark spots at the base.
Slender, narrow, grass-like leaves arranged in opposite pairs along the wiry stems. They form loosely tufted mats or cushions, rarely exceeding 15–40 cm in height.
The flowers open in the sunshine and close up on cloudy, dull, or wet days.
In the wild, they prefer dry, sunny, and lime-rich grasslands or rocky terrain, and are very sporadic/local in the UK mainly found in parts of East Scotland and England.
Has little to no fragrance