Carnation

Plant Characteristics

Lifespan:	⌛	[[Lifespan::Perennial]]

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	Sun"Sun" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water:	◍	regular to dry"regular to dry" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Features:	✓	Flowers, Fragrance, Naturalizes
Sunset Zones:		best in 1-24, 30-45

Scientific Names

Caryophyllaceae >

Dianthus >

caryophyllus >

Carnations are divided into two distinct categories, either florists' or border types. All of them have bluish-green leaves branching stems and double flowers. Stems have leaves and may become woody at the bottom with age. Under cultivation for 2,000 years, the plant is thought to be native to the Mediterranean.

Although originally applied to the species Dianthus caryophyllus, the name Carnation is also often applied to some of the other species of Dianthus, and more particularly to garden hybrids between D. caryophyllus and other species in the genus.

Border Carnations

A Carnation cultivar

Border carnations are the most widespread, and are the bushier and more compact type, reaching 12-14 inches high. The flowers come in profusions, and each is between 2 - 2 1/4 in. wide, and fragrant. Hybrids planted from seed are often treated as annuals, though they may live overwinter. All work well as borders, container plants and in mixed flower beds.

Cultivars:

• 'Juliet' - scarlet flowers (2.5 inches), compact, 12 inch clumps, long bloom period
• 'Luminette' - similar to Juliet, but 2 feet tall.
• 'Pixie Delight' - similar to Juliet, but flowers have full range of colors
• 'Knight' - stems are strong, flowers 5 months after sowing
• 'Bambino' - slower to flower
• 'Hanging Mixed' - flowers are red or pink, plants hang down from pots.

Florists' Carnations

These are the ones you get at the florists, with the long stems, and are grown in greenhouses, or outdoors in areas with mild winters. In the greenhouse they can reach 4 ft with fragrant flowers, 3 inches wide. Colors include red, white, pink, orange, yellow, purple and mixed. Only the terminal bud on a stem is allowed to develop in order to get the largest flowers, while the rest get pinched off down to the 5th joint, which is under where new flower stems may develop. To prevent sprawling, staking is necessary. Grow plants from strong cuttings of varieties you like. Plants are sturdy and tidy, concealing supports.

Carnations are cultivars of Dianthus caryophyllus - a species of Dianthus.

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall. The leaves are glaucous greyish green to blue-green, slender, up to 15 cm long. The flowers are produced singly or up to five together in a cyme; they are 3–5 cm diameter, and sweetly scented; the original natural flower colour is bright pinkish-purple, but cultivars of other colours, including red, white, yellow and green, have been developed.

Cultivation

Carnations require well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and full sun. Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden planting.

Propagation

Seed, cutting. Typically border carnations are propagated by seed, while florists' carnations are propagated by cuttings.

Pests and diseases

Main article: List of carnation diseases

Gallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

  Carnations painted by Redouté

• 

  Dianthus caryophyllus

External links

• Wikibooks' Gardening-Carnations
• Carnations and Pinks Resources
• Carnations and the Floriculture Industry: Records of the Colorado Flower Growers Association