It’s all in the name – Dianthus

Besides being a beautiful decorative plant, the Dianthus also has a rich history, especially when it comes to its many names. These names reveal a deeper symbolism and give us a glimpse back in time. Will you join us on a journey into the past?

This history begins about 3,000 years ago, in the Greek era, where this plant was called ‘dios anthos’, meaning ‘flower of Zeus’. This name shows how much the Greeks admired the blooming of this plant. During this period, it was common to inspire names of plants and flowers by gods and their characteristics. The long flowering of the Dianthus was probably the inspiration for naming it after their almighty and supreme god Zeus.