I am quite happy with that description, Val. This is the Maiden Pink, native to much of Europe including England. The native flowers are usually pink but, as this plant is often used to produce cultivars, the shade could vary. It will grow into a low mound of up to twelve inches across.

I agree with that BA, the maiden pinks are lovely.

Easy enough to grow from seed too.

I grew some from seed many years ago and was taken aback to find that they were dark red, but I think I had a cultivated version. 'Flashing Light' rings a bell.....

That is a form of it yes.
Dianthus seeds are the quickest of all to germinate I find. I put some in a petrie dish on wet filter paper and put it in the salad compt. of the Fridge and they had germinated the following morning.

Crikey! Now, that IS fast!

val98
Thanks for those replies. It is great to have responses from such obvious enthusiasts. I would like to turn a small, shady area of my garden into a wild flower space. I already have some ragged robin which does reasonably well. Any suggestions for suitable plants would be appreciated.

How small is "small"? The plants that I've had in shade tend to be tough survivors, otherwise known as "thugs" if you try to grow them in a small space. Lamium galeobdolon (Yellow Archangel) does well in shade. So does white comfrey

The area in question is about fifteen square feet. West facing, slightly overhung by a big conifer and backing onto a hedge. Is comfrey the one that can be used to make liquid fertiliser?

It is. The comfrey that is sold for liquid fertiliser making is big, spready and very difficult to control. The one I suggested is smaller, with white flowers that brighten up dark areas. I've grown it for over 10 years & it doesn't get TOO out of hand, but I had a large, wildish garden then.

Assuming you really mean fifteen square feet - i.e. a patch 3 feet by 5 feet, that is quite small, so you'd need to be very selective. If you mean a patch 15 feet by 15 feet, you could try some more vigorous plants. It will mostly be pretty dry so you'll need to water til plants are established.

The borderline between garden flowers and wild ones is quite elastic, and I don't know where you'd draw it, but bluebells and cyclamen (C. hederifolium & C. coum) all do well in shade.

All sorts of Lamium species should survive there, also Pulmonaria, hardy geraniums.

lily of the valley and of course many native ferns are suitable, hartstongue , maiden hair etc.

Yes I do mean 3 feet by 5 feet, so would the smaller comfrey still be suitable? I already have lily of the valley and masses of bluebells in other parts of the garden, but I would like to include pulmonaria. I haven't met Lamium so I will have a look at that and at some of the species of fern suggested.Thanks.

I wouldn't introduce any comfrey into a space that small. If you want a fern, you'd need a small one, not a great big shuttlecock.
How about some small anemones? A. sylvestris or A. blanda? I've seen those growing wild in woods. You may find the Lamiums are too spready.

Thanks for those ideas. I'll give the comfrey a miss,but I like the idea of the anemones. I was going to start stripping out the area today, but the much needed rain has caused a delay.