Hardiness Zones: USDA 4 to 9

Habit: Hardy perennial. Herbaceous, but some species and cultivars have nice evergreen foliage.

Exposure/Culture: Full sun with well drained somewhat alkaline soil. Water regularly when top three inches of soil is dry

Height/Spread: Low, dense mound with fast growth 6 to 24 inches tall 12 inches wide depending on species and cultiver.

Foliage/Flower/Fruit: Green-gray foliage, small single, re, white, pink flowers

Cultivars: Several species and cultivars. Try D. gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch' (shown), 'Bath White', 'Bath Pink'

Comments: Needs good air circulation to lower chance of fungal diseases, divide in Spring. Great for edging, in mass, rock gardens, perennial border, pots. Some cultivars very fragrant.

'Spotty'- Showy spotted petals are superior viewed up close. Plants produce a low, dense mound of 3 inch green-gray leaves. Blooms in late spring over about 8 weeks with red flowers spotted and edged in white, with serrated petal tips. Blossoms are mildly fragrant. Repeat blooms if promptly sheared after first flush. Loves well drained locations such as tops of crubs and retaining walls. Hardy perennial. Full sun. Fast growth 6 to 12 inches tall, 12 inches wide.

'Mountain Mist' - Outstanding pink with all the bells and whistles. Hardy plants develop into a low, dense mound of 3 inch green-gray leaves. Blooms in late spring over about 8 weeks. Plants are covered with 1½ inch lipstick pink flowers with showy fringed petal tips. Blossoms are mildly fragrant. Repeat blooms if promptly sheared after first flush. Highly valued rock garden plant or tightly spaced as edging and masses. Well suited to tops of curbs and retaining walls. Easily adapted to porous troughs and pots. Essential to cottage and perennnial border. Hardy perennial. Full sun. Fast growth 6 to 12 inches tall, 12 inches wide.