The Dianthus ciliatus complex has three morphologically very similar subspecies that are geographically well defined in the Adriatic region. Nominal subspecies D. ciliatus subsp. ciliatus occurs in northern and central Adriatic and in central Italy, while two endemic subspecies D. ciliatus subsp. dalmaticus occurs in southern Adriatic and D. ciliatus subsp. medunensis in Montenegro and Albania. Because of previous unclear morphological distinctions and due to overlapping of morphological features it was not possible to unambiguously define the subspecies. Morphometric analysis was performed on collected herbarium materials of three subspecies, in total on 66 individuals from 22 populations across the Adriatic region (11 populations of D. ciliatus subsp. ciliatus, 7 populations of D. ciliatus subsp. dalmaticus and 4 populations of D. ciliatus subsp. medunensis). Seventeen quantitative and five qualitative morphological characters were analysed. Descriptive and multivariate statistics (PCA and CDA) were performed, and seven morphological characters were statistically significant. Those seven characters (epicalyx height, outer second scale width and length, outer first scale width and length, inner scale length and apex length of first outer scale) can be used for better determination of D. ciliatus subspecies. Based on that analysis, a determination key for identification of subspecies of the D. ciliatus complex was given, and a revision of herbarium specimens in CNHM, ZA, ZAGR and ZAHO was conducted as well.