FIRST LOVE Dianthus
Dianthus 'First Love'
FIRST LOVE Dianthus (Dianthus 'First Love') is a perennial suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 10 to 14 in tall and 12 to 15 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Flowers open white and age to deep rose; very long bloom season for a dianthus.
Plant Select®low to medium water10 to 14 in tall and 12 to 15 in wideXeric / water-wiseLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 9/10Deer-resistantToxic to dogs
Photos
- Photo 1: James St. John, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY)
- Photo 2: James St. John, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY)
- Photo 3: Kurt Stüber [1], Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3 to 9
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- loam, sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 10 to 14 in tall and 12 to 15 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~10 to 15 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer, mid summer
- Bloom color
- pink, white
- Bloom length
- Reblooms
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 9/10
Things to know before you plant
- Toxic to dogsConsidered toxic to dogs, so keep pets away from it and check with your vet.
Planting & establishment
Deep water every 1 to 2 weeks during establishment (first growing season), then water sparingly per Plant Select guidance.
Frequently asked questions
- Is FIRST LOVE Dianthus good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, FIRST LOVE Dianthus is a well-suited perennial for Colorado's Front Range.
- What should I know before planting FIRST LOVE Dianthus?
- The main things to know: Considered toxic to dogs, so keep pets away from it and check with your vet.
- How big does FIRST LOVE Dianthus get?
- It matures to about 10 to 14 in tall and 12 to 15 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant FIRST LOVE Dianthus?
- Space FIRST LOVE Dianthus about 10 in apart for a faster, fuller bed, or up to 15 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is FIRST LOVE Dianthus hardy on the Front Range?
- FIRST LOVE Dianthus is hardy in USDA 3 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does FIRST LOVE Dianthus need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is FIRST LOVE Dianthus safe for dogs?
- No. FIRST LOVE Dianthus is considered toxic to dogs. Keep pets away and check with your vet.
- Is FIRST LOVE Dianthus deer-resistant?
- FIRST LOVE Dianthus is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is FIRST LOVE Dianthus a good firewise plant near the house?
- FIRST LOVE Dianthus is rated 9 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- How long does FIRST LOVE Dianthus bloom?
- FIRST LOVE Dianthus reblooms through the season, especially if you deadhead spent flowers on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
