Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Dianthus for Zone 4

46 Dianthus varieties rated hardy through Zone 4, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 4 is short, intense seasons — plants here are the toughest in the catalog.

46 hardy hereof 78 Dianthus totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Dianthus that thrive in Zone 4

#1 most saved

Paint the Town Magenta Pinks

Dianthus x hybrida 'Paint the Town Magenta'

Zones 4–9· 77 saves· from $34

#2 most saved

Maiden Pink

Dianthus deltoides

Zones 4–9· 72 saves

#3 most saved

Cheddar Pinks Firewitch

Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch'

Zones 4–9· 66 saves· from $8

Candy Floss Maiden Pink

Dianthus deltoides 'Candy Floss'

Zones 4–8· 64 saves

Passion Garden Pinks

Dianthus x hybrida 'Passion'

Zones 4–9· 61 saves· from $11

Paint the Town Red Pinks

Dianthus caryophyllus 'Paint the Town Red'

Zones 4–9· 55 saves· from $13

Garden Pinks

Dianthus x hybrida

Zones 4–9· 49 saves

Cheddar Pink

Dianthus x gratianopolitanus

Zones 4–9· 49 saves

Greystone Dianthus

Dianthus x hybrida 'Greystone'

Zones 4–8· 48 saves

Electra Cheddar Pink

Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Electra'

Zones 4–9· 46 saves

Bumbleberry Pie Pink

Dianthus carthusianorum 'Bumbleberry Pie'

Zones 4–9· 45 saves

Dianthus Black Cherry Frost

Dianthus x hybrida 'Black Cherry Frost'

Zones 4–9· 45 saves· from $14

Garden Pink Dianthus

Dianthus x hybrida 'Spiked Punch'

Zones 4–9· 45 saves

Cottage Pink

Dianthus plumarius 'Rose de Mai'

Zones 4–9· 43 saves

Sweet William

Dianthus barbatus

Zones 4–7· 43 saves

Sweet William Heart Attack

Dianthus barbatus 'Heart Attack'

Zones 4–9· 41 saves

Tiny Rubies Carnation

Dianthus caryophyllus 'Tiny Rubies'

Zones 4–9· 41 saves

Cheddar Pinks

Dianthus x cinquenti

Zones 4–9· 41 saves

Watermelon Ice Pinks

Dianthus caryophyllus 'Watermelon Ice'

Zones 4–9· 39 saves· from $29

Purple Hardy Sweet William

Dianthus barbatus 'Purple Hardy Sweet William'

Zones 4–7· 39 saves

Pinball Wizard Pinks

Dianthus dianthus 'Pinball Wizard'

Zones 4–9· 38 saves· from $11

Cheddar Pink

Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Zones 4–9· 38 saves

Laced Monarch Pink

Dianthus plumarius 'Laced Monach'

Zones 4–9· 37 saves

Pink

Dianthus 'Kahori'

Zones 4–9· 37 saves· from $18

Showing the 24 most-saved of 46 Zone 4–hardy Dianthus varieties. See the full Dianthus list →

Dianthus in Zone 4

Will Dianthus survive a Zone 4 winter?

46 of the 78 Dianthus varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 4, where winter lows reach -30°F to -20°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Dianthus in Zone 4?

In Zone 4 the last spring frost typically lands around mid-May and the first fall frost around late September. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Dianthus is best for Zone 4?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Dianthus

Every Dianthus variety (78)

Dianthus in other zones

More for Zone 4

See Dianthus in your Zone 4 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.