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A wide variety of plants growing in the Medieval Herb Garden on a sunny day

Medieval herb garden blog 68: Deptford pink

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Week 68 volunteer update

Today Carole planted a jasmine at the side of the woody nightshade. She also did a spot of weeding and re-stocked the sales barrow.

She then hammered in a series of metal hoops around the purple comfrey to try and keep it upright. This will hopefully stop it taking over the top part of the Medieval Herb Garden again this year.

For those of you who ask: the liquorice is now showing growth. It's 2 inches (5 cm) high at the moment. It is currently growing at a rate of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) a week. This rate is likely to rapidly increase in the coming weeks!

A shoot of liquorice plant emerging from the ground, about 5 centimetres high. It is a reddish colour with green edges.

The start of the liquorice growth - soon to shoot right up!

Plant of the week: Deptford pink (dianthus armeria)

'Dianthus' comes from the Greek 'dios' ('god / divine') and 'anthos' ('flower'). Combined, this translates as 'divine flower'.

The name 'Deptford pink' was created by naturalist Thomas Johnson in the 1600s. He described a pink flower growing in Deptford, southeast London. However, it is very likely that Johnson was actually describing the related 'maiden pink'!

Deptford pink is native to Europe. It is now quite rare in the wild. It is an upright, short-lived, evergreen perennial. It is often self-pollinating. Deptford pink will grow in any well-drained, alkaline to neutral soil. It prefers full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. It will not grow in clay soil.

Deptford pink grows to a height and width of 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm). The foliage forms a sparse, upright structure with a few basal leaves. It has widely-spaced, narrow, hairy, blue-green, lance-shaped, opposite leaves. It branches out sparingly above the leaves.

Deptford pink usually flowers from June to September. However, the ones in the MHG are in flower now! Short-stalked or stalkless clusters of deep pink flowers grow at the end of the stems. These usually open in the sunshine. Each flower is 0.3 to 0.5 inches (0.8 to 1.3 cm) in diameter. The flowers have five lanceolate petals. Each petal has irregular jagged edges and small white spots on the upper surface. The petals are surrounded by upright, hairy, leaf-like bracts.

The fruit is a narrow, upright capsule. It splits open at the top to release about 400 tiny seeds. The seeds can lie dormant in the soil for several years before germinating.

Two small bright pink flowers at the end of green fuzzy stems

Deptford pink beginning to flower in the Medieval Herb Garden

Culinary uses of Deptford pink

The small bright pink flowers can be eaten raw in salads. They can also be crystallized with sugar to decorate cakes, pastries and other desserts.

Like other pinks, the petals can be infused into vinegar or mixed into butter. They add a light floral flavour.

Use of Deptford pink as a dye plant

Boiling the flowers produces a vivid pink. A mordant, like alum, is often required to help the colour bind to the fibres.

Folklore and other facts about Deptford pink

In folklore, Deptford pink was associated with love and romance. In some cultures, it was believed that if a person gave a bouquet of Deptford pink to their love interest, it would lead to a long and happy relationship. In other cultures, the flower was used as a symbol of admiration and friendship.

It is considered endangered in the UK. It is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

It may be susceptible to powdery mildews, rust, virus and fusarium wilt.

Medieval medicinal uses of Deptford pink*

Deptford Pink has historically been used as a diuretic to increase urine flow. It has also been used as an anti-inflammatory. It has been used for digestive issues, urinary tract infections and fevers. These uses are similar to other dianthus species.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

Medieval herb garden blogs

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