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| SEED-GROWN DIANTHUS BARBATUS ‘AMAZON NEON’ SERIES STILL PRODUCES GREEN TUFTS OF MOSSY HEADS, BUT SOON WILL BE COVERED IN BRIGHT, MAGENTA BLOSSOMS. AT THIS STAGE, THEY CAN ACT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR ‘GREEN TRICK’ DIANTHUS, IF YOU CANNOT FIND THEM SOLD THIS YEAR AS STARTS. |
That darn ‘Green Trick’ Dianthus barbatus – It arrived three years ago, and captured the heart of most every capable floral designer – ‘Green Trick’ dianthus introduced by the Dutch cut flower breeders a few years ago, remained out-of-reach, until now. Plan for next year, and now, you too can grow this mossy, green globe of a dianthus with tall stems and mussy tufts of fuzzy green globes bobbing at the end of tall stems that can reach as tall as 30 inches. Next year, surely ‘Green Trick’ will be on everyones growing list, but it looks like the stock is still being sold as micro-propagated starts, and not from seed. So if stylish, green cutflowers make you swoon. If you can’t wait? Order your plugs now ( It might be sold out before long) so stock up.
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| DIANTHUS BARBATUS, WHICH MUCH BE SOWN IN MARCH INDOORS, WILL REWARD YOU WITH TALL 30″ -40″ TALL STEMS IN JULY AND AUGUST. ‘AMAZON NEON, IS A ANOTHER F1 HYBRID, SIMILAR TO THE TRENDY ‘GREEN TRICK’ WHICH PRODUCES FUZZY GREEN HEADS, BEFORE FLOWERS EMERGE. |
Can’t wait? Or want more plants? Then I would suggest some of ‘Green Trick’s’ closest relatives, other newly bred and introduced Dianthus barbatus introductions which also grow tall, being bred for the cut flower market, and which also produce mossy tufts of green calyx’s, but only before hidden flower buds emerge and bloom. To retain the green, mossy look, simply pick them early. Later, you will also get brilliant magenta flowers within the heads, which is not such a horrible thing either.
As you can see above, there are other new varieties of Dianthus barbatus ( Sweet William) which have been recently introduced to the cut flower trade, that can be grown at home in the cut flower garden, or tucked away between perennials to fill gaps in the border, as I use the plants.
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| OTHER FUZZY GLOBES IN THE GARDEN RIGHT NOW INCLUDE THIS MAGNIFICENT CARDOON FLOWER, SOME BLUE ECHINOPS AND PEACHY KNIPHOPHIA, |
STAGHORN FERNS, HAVE BEEN HUNG ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PORCH, WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY SUMMER BREEZES AND THUNDERSTORMS. WHEN THEY GET DRY, THEY ARE DUNKED INTO A HORSE TROUGH OF WATER FOR A FEW MINUTES, ALONG WITH POTTED ORCHIDS, WHICH KEEPS THE MOSS AND POTTING MATERIAL DAMP DURING HOT, DRY WEATHER.
Matt,
The Thompson and Morgan link you provided only delivers to the UK and I don't see it on the US website.
Where did you get yours from?
These are not 'Green Trick', they are just similar. I know, unfortunately, the T&M site does only ship to the UK, but maybe next year there will be sources in other countries. Until then, I suggest growing this neon series, and picking the flower heads before the open or even before they show flower buds. The look is pretty similar, but just not as fluffy. For the home grower, it's a close substitute.
Just found your blog and I am totally in love, especially with your sweet pea posts! It's so hard to find bloggers that write about them. I'm growing Spencers from Roger Parsons for the first time this year and it's very exciting š
I have a feeling I'll be spending quite a bit of time reading your archives.
This one is too good. thanks for sharing.
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Lovely plant pics. Your plants are beautiful especially the ardoon flower, blue echinops and peach kniphophia.
Iāve seen some discussion of successful propagation of āGreen Trickā from cut florist flowers; the tip was to get the cut flowers from a grocery store floral section, as most donāt bother cleaning off foliage and especially side shoots from the stems.
Even without the side shoots, Iāve successfully rooted several stems of carnations, two nodes below and two above the soil, pop in a zipper plastic bag, inflate with a puff of breath, then onto a seedling mat under fluorescent lights.
While I realize it is technically not perfectly legal to propagate proprietary varieties, my conscience rests easy enough, since I do not now nor do I intend to profit off of my āstolenā plants in any way. (And something in me just rankles at the thought of propagating any plant being against the law. Iām a registered Democratic Socialist, but in my garden I get very libertarian about things.)
I have read the same blog posts. I think I saw plugs for Green Trick available this year though, and even a similar variety at a local nursery – maybe it is becoming more available. As for rooting cuttings of patented varieties, while technically illegal, I imagine that a few cuttings for the home grower that are not being sold might be overlooked. I actually rooted some patented phlox this year just for myself. I don’t think 6 plants are going to land me in plant jail – maybe I am over-rationalizing, but it’s not as if I am propagating thousands of plants (which would impact the royalties paid out to the breeder). I would never want to do that, but my 6 cuttings are more like dividing a clump after two years. LIke you, what happens in my garden…