Flower profile
Maiden pink
Dianthus deltoides
Maiden pink is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In New Hampshire it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: New Hampshire
Quick look
Dianthus deltoides, the maiden pink, is a species of Dianthus native to most of Europe and western Asia. It can also be found in many parts of North America, where it is an introduced species.
- It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 26 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to New Hampshire. NatureServe
- In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 494 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #73 among the 109 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist
Maiden pink gift ideas
Handmade maiden pink gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Maiden pink art print
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Maiden pink greeting card
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Maiden pink mug
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Maiden pink earrings
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Maiden pink embroidery pattern
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Maiden pink sticker
When does it bloom?
In New Hampshire, most flowering sightings come in June–August.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- New Hampshire
- Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: leaves. Symptoms they list: “No reports of ingestion. Skin irritation reported from contact with clove pinks, and vomiting.” They also note: “Poisonous” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Eastern Star” (Dianthus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records maiden pink in 26 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Hillsborough, Rockingham, Strafford.
More New Hampshire flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile DIDE.
- iNaturalist, Dianthus deltoides: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Dianthus deltoides (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020).
- New Hampshire: NH Prohibited Invasive Species List (Agr 3800, Table 3800.1).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Dianthus deltoides (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Lynn Harper via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.