HEAVENLY SCENTS

Keith Hammett, one of New Zealand's pre-eminent plant breeders (he is responsible for the impressive dark foliage of the dahlia Mystic series), has been working on a range of dianthus to improve their habit and performance.

Hammett's nine years of hard work has paid off - they are simply stunning.  Traditionally, dianthus or pinks as they are also known, will flower once, in spring and can often have an unruly habit.  Hammett's new range incorporateds the existing pretty flowers and gorgeous clove-like, spicy scent with a compact plant, and one that will flower almost all year round.  In winter, when there are no flowers, they will appear as a tight compact grey hedgehog.  This makes them useful for mass planting in regular garden beds or in ports on the patio to make sue of the heavenly scent.

There are six in the range, with alluring names such as 'Angel Of Wisdom', 'Angel of Beauty', 'Angel of Forgiveness'.