Edge/ Deptford Pink

COMMON NAME: Deptford Pink

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Grass Pink, Wild Pink

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dianthus armeria

FAMILY: Caryophyllaceae

COMMUNITY: Edge

STATUS: Naturalized from Europe

LIFESPAN: Annual or biennial

HEIGHT: 8 to 24 inches

FLOWERING TIME: Late May to late September

FRUITING TIME: June to October

DISTRIBUTION: Quebec to Florida ~ Statewide in New Jersey

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Basal leaves basal, numerous, lance shaped, upper leaves linear ~ Flowers in groups, often surpassed by slender erect bract, pink or rose colored dotted with white

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family (Caryophyllaceae) commonly called the Pink or Carnation Family consists of 89 genera and 2,070 species of herbs, shrubs and a few trees found in temperate and warm climates.  Latin caryophlum means “a clove” alluding to the clove-like scent to some carnations. The genus (Dianthus) of Deptford Pink means “God’s flower” from  the Latin dios “of Zeus” and anthos for flower. In 1633 Gerard wrote “There is a little wilde creeping Pinke, which growth in our pastures neere about London, and in other places, but especially in the great field next to Deptford, by the path side as you go from Redriffe to Greenwich”. Today Deptford Pink is a weed of open ground, roadsides, fields, waste ground and bluffs.  It is a very common weed in many habitats.  Plants in this genus have some medicinal uses and the petals have been used to color cosmetics.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.