Dianthus

Aka: Pinks

Size: 6 to12 inches tall and wide

Lighting requirements: Full to part sun

Seasonal interest: Spring to frost blooms

Winter: Usually stays green

These varieties of Dianthus are treated as short lived perennials even though they are sold as annual bedding plants at most nurseries. 

They are real performers here and one of my absolute favorite plants. They seem to really shine when other plants just look blah. 

Dianthus are considered deer resistant, but I have seen deer nibble on them occasionally.