The Cheddar pink is a native wildflower of Cheddar Gorge and the Mendips. Its flowers are very popular with butterflies, moths, bees, beneficial insects and other pollinators. The leaves form a low, evergreen, blue/green mat (ground cover) and the flowering stems are up to 20 cm tall. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils that have not been improved. It produces pink flowers from June to July.
Note: I usually grow wildflowers from seed supplied by a reputable source. In this case, my Cheddar pinks came from a cutting from one of my lovely gardening friends who got hers from cuttings from a gardening club in Pill. I have gone through the features used to identify this and similar wildflowers and it most closely matches the Cheddar Pink, however, a couple of features (width across the calyx and leaf width) suggest this is a hybrid (or introgressed). Please email me if you want to know more!
Cheddar Pink hybrid / Dianthus gratianopolitanus hybrid
Position: Flower border edges, Rock garden
Flowering months: Jun / Jul
Light: Full sun / Mix of sun and shade
Soil: Loam / Chalk / Sand
Tested in our local soil (t.i.o.l.s.): Yes (but avoid heavy clay)
Drainage: Well drained
Life cycle: Perennial (lives for many years)
Hardiness: Fully hardy (in Bristol winters)
Over winter: Evergreen
Drought tolerant: Yes, once established

