Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Dianthus for Zone 5

77 Dianthus varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

77 hardy hereof 78 Dianthus totalLast frost ~early May

The Dianthus that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

Hardy Carnation

Dianthus caryophyllus 'Hardy Mixed'

Zones 5–9· 194 saves

#2 most saved

Cherry Vanilla Dianthus

Dianthus dianthus 'Cherry Vanilla'

Zones 5–9· 78 saves· from $14

#3 most saved

Paint the Town Magenta Pinks

Dianthus x hybrida 'Paint the Town Magenta'

Zones 4–9· 77 saves· from $34

Chinese Pink Rockin' Red Dianthus

Dianthus chinensis 'Rockin' Red'

Zones 5–8· 75 saves· from $14

Maiden Pink

Dianthus deltoides

Zones 4–9· 72 saves

Chinese Pink Neon Star Dianthus

Dianthus chinensis 'Neon Star'

Zones 5–8· 67 saves· from $14

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

Paint the Town Fuchsia Carnation

Dianthus caryophyllus 'Paint the Town Fuchsia'

Zones 5–8· 53 saves· from $16

Pink Pom Pom Chinese Pinks

Dianthus chinensis 'Pink Pom Pom'

Zones 5–9· 52 saves

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

Double Bubble Carnation

Dianthus caryophyllus 'Double Bubble'

Zones 5–9· 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

Georgia Peach Pie Dianthus

Dianthus x allwoodii 'Georgia Peach Pie'

Zones 5–9· 45 saves

Dianthus Grace Bay

Dianthus x hybrida 'Grace Bay'

Zones 5–9· 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

American Pie Trio Garden Pink

Dianthus deltoides 'American Pie Trio'

Zones 5–9· 44 saves

Sweet William

Dianthus barbatus

Zones 4–7· 43 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 77 Zone 5–hardy Dianthus varieties. See the full Dianthus list →

Dianthus in Zone 5

Will Dianthus survive a Zone 5 winter?

77 of the 78 Dianthus varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°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 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. 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 5?

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 5

See Dianthus in your Zone 5 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.