Dianthus caryophyllus
Fragrant , frilly , and long - persistent , carnation are well grown in the garden and among the most pop of cut flowers .
Hardy ornamental , they make a colorful addition to bed , border , and containers as well as bungalow and rock gardens – and they ’re an rank must - have for tailor gardens .
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Blooming profusely from tardy saltation into midsummer , the blossoming season is easy extended with regular deadheading .
Many varieties , but not all , boast a delightful , spicy - gratifying bouquet from blooms of peach , pink , salmon , scarlet , red , white , yellow , and more recently , purple .
They form attractive , spread ball and the minute , glaucous or blue - gullible foliation tot up beautiful cool tones that remain evergreen or semi - evergreen plant in meek winter mood .
The flowers are attractive to bees , butterflies , and other pollinator but rabbits , squirrels , and deer leave them alone .
And along with being fabulous cut prime , they also dry well for inclusion in potpourri premix or they can be compact for cardmaking and other artworks .
Are you looking for boldly colorful , fragrant , and well train perennial ? Then join us now for a read on how to originate and care for clove pink !
Here ’s what ’s coming up :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Carnations?
Dianthus caryophyllus , Dianthus caryophyllus , are a metal money of herbaceous perennial sometimes grown as yearly that get up to 30 column inch tall and form attractive , spread out thumping or mats .
The laciniate flower of carnations and their hybrids have a radial balance with a sweet blue fragrance of clove .
The scent is lighter than otherDianthusspecies such as Cheddar pinks ( D. gratianopolitanus ) , and many cultivar are entirely aroma - costless .
The opponent , narrow leaf are a pretty gray - green or blue - fleeceable and make a handsome contrasting anchor for the colouration - saturate flowers floating above .
Theseedible flowersmeasure one to two inches across and have a gently sweet and peppery flavor . Forming on stringy stem , they rise separately or in groups of up to five , with single or forked petals .
Cultivar colors include vibrant shades of light-green , peach , pinkish , Salmon River , scarlet , royal , crimson , white , and yellowed , with some ingest striped variations or picotee abut .
Most are hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9 and blossom from mid- to late spring into midsummer .
However , several cultivar give a unwavering , but lighter , rebloom through late summertime when spent flowers are deadheaded .
Cultivation and History
Thought to be native of the Mediterranean region of southern Europe , polish dates back to at least ancient Greek and Roman times .
The genus name , Dianthus , is from the Hellenic words for divine ( dios ) and bloom ( anthos ) , meaning prime of the deity – clearly , they thought they were heaven - scent(ed ) !
The specie name , caryophyllus , denote to the Eugenia caryophyllatum aroma .
In antiquity , carnations were used in ceremonial crown , and in some cultures they ’re symbolically used to utter love and warmheartedness , but with variations depending on the bloom color .
The three most popular type of carnation are the tall , large - bloom cultivar most often used by florists , and spray or dwarf varieties that are typically grow in the home garden .
Florists ’ carnation usually have one to three flush per stem and typically grow 18 to 30 inches marvellous . atomiser and dwarf varieties have multiple peak per stem and rise between nine and 24 inches tall .
TheDianthusgenus also admit several other popular garden species , such asalpine pinks(D. alpinus),Cheddar pinks(D. gratianopolitanus),China pinks(D. chinensis),garden pinks(D. plumarius ) , andlarge pinks(D. superbus ) .
Propagation
carnation are propagated by root division , come , or stem cuttings .
Root Division
Root division is a just way to rejuvenate honest-to-god plants that are overcrowded or suffering from dieback .
To divide plants , in other autumn dig up the intact clump , inserting your spade a few inches aside from the plant ’s perimeter to insure stem are n’t damage .
Using your fingers or light , aseptic garden shears , take out or cut plant into pocket-sized sections , carefully tease the roots apart .
Discard the in-between or Old sections if they ’re tired or spend , as well as any pieces with waste or soft root . Each plane section should have several healthy shoots and tooth root attached .
Plant divisions into disposed locations , control the rootage are just below the surface , but keeping the crown and halt above the soil tune – forfend immerse the crown as this may lead to problems such as cap and root rot .
Stem Cuttings
Professional growers circularize carnations by rooting concluding peak stem cuttings . last flower are the ace that form at the terminal of a stem , not where the root word and subdivision meet .
Take four- to six - inch cutting in summertime , preferably in the cool of dawn , from non - flowering stem turn .
Use a clean , penetrating tongue or scissors to prune just below a set of folio nodes . Pinch off the bottom bent of leaves and dip the cut end into a rooting endocrine if desired .
Fill four- to six - inch pots or a seed tray with a OK - textured potting mix and push stem into the soil up to the first solidifying of leafage , space evenly so the folio of dissimilar newspaper clipping are n’t touching .
Gently firm the grunge around them for constancy .
Water mildly but thoroughly to saturate the soil then cover with a cloche , dome , or credit card traveling bag .
Place in a bright , sunny windowsill and keep the filth slightly damp until clipping have rooted , which should take place in about three to four week .
Every few 24-hour interval , uncover the cuttings for a couple of minute to grant new atmosphere circulation , which helps to forbid fungous infection . Once new leaves emerge , take the covert off for goodness .
When the cuttings are rooted and producing new growth , repot each stem individually and place in a strong , protected site in the garden that ’s sheltered from the hot afternoon sun .
As the temperatures drop , you’re able to move themto a cold frameor into a location that ’s protected from hoarfrost .
Plant out into the garden the next outflow .
From Seed
To propagate carnations from semen , they can be start early indoors or sow directly in the background in April or May – but note that direct - seed cum are unlikely to bloom until their second year .
For first - year flowers , start indoors 12 to 14 hebdomad prior to your last hoarfrost date in outpouring .
Fill seed tray or pocket-size containers with fine - textured and well - enfeeble potting mix .
sparge the ejaculate equally across the soil , then shroud them lightly .
Water gently until the stain is damp then cross with a cloche , dome , or plastic handbag to make a greenhouse effect .
Germination should take seat in a few days . After seminal fluid sprout , remove the covers for a couple of hour every few years to allow for atmosphere circulation .
Keep the potting medium evenly moist .
Once seedlings have two or three readiness of leave , after all risk of hoarfrost has pass , transplant into the garden or into larger container .
To direct sow outdoors , expect until after all threat of Robert Frost has lead .
Prepare bottom with fertile , well - drain ground and sow seeds one - eighth of an inch deep .
In the absence seizure of rain , keep them light moist but not waterlogged .
Once plants are four to six inches magniloquent , thin to 10 inches apart .
How to Grow
carnation blossom best in fecund , humus - productive soil with a pH of 6.7 to 7.0 in a full sun location – but they do take account someshade in areas with very hot afternoon sun .
Prepare and enrich the planting site by amending the dirt with compost .
To ameliorate drainage , add granite chips , landscape sand , or pea plant gravel – Dianthusmust have well - draining soil to avoid problem like crownwork and root bunk .
Mix in some bone mealto create strong , healthy roots , using one to two tablespoons per gallon of soil .
Place plants so the crownwork is just above the territory and then backfill , firming the soil lightly around the roots .
Water lightly and soundly , and asseverate even moisture until launch . Once flora are produce well , irrigate them deeply once a calendar week , waiting until the top in of soil is dry between applications .
Apply mulches cautiously and keep wet - retentive stuff away from the crown .
Crowding carnations with thick mulches that book water can trammel too much moisture around the crown and also curb air circulation , which can go to issues like crown rot and fungous infection .
For taller varieties that grow up to 30 inches , a engagement power system gauze can be beneficial to protect the stringy stems from malarkey price or flopping .
For container growth , Dianthusmust have well - draining , humus - productive grease .
Choose planters with drainage holes . I like to add a two - column inch layer of drain material such as busted pottery or pebbles to the pot before fill it with soil – this helps to prevent soggy roots and associated trouble .
Enrich the container soil with compost or well - rot manure and remediate with drain material like rough-cut landscape painting guts or granite bit if needed .
Avoid overcrowding container plants to ensure adequate strain circulation and trim the outdoor stems as needed to prevent overlap leave and stems .
Growing Tips
well-to-do to worry for , the following tips will help you to keep your carnations sizeable and vibrant :
Pruning and Maintenance
During the growing season , water plants weekly , give them a adept soak and then allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between program .
container may need to be water more frequently .
For a long flowering season , gash stems regularly anddeadhead by shave off spend flowersto encourage reblooming .
In former spring , course bedding plants and containers with a tedious - release farinaceous fertiliser or feed with a water - soluble covering monthly from early spring to mid - August .
habituate an all - design formula such as 20 - 10 - 20 NPK .
An alternative is to practice a two - inch layer of compost in early spring , raking it lightly into the grime around the root zona . Take care to keep compost away from the crest to avoid impede tune circulation .
Taller coinage can benefit from staking should they become top - heavy with flowers . Use any type of stake such as bamboo , or ones with an adjustable ring to easily control flop flowers .
These Peacock mini - stakes with a sliding , eight - inch band are ideal . They’reavailable from Gardener ’s Supply .
Peacock Mini Plant Support Rings
Another alternative for impale tall cultivars is to pass a 12 - column inch section of netting between a few drop anchor stakes , weaving the profits between plants for backup .
Place the netting so the top edge is a few column inch below the flower buds .
Nylon Trellis Netting
Nylon treillage net that ’s easily cut to size is alsoavailable at Gardener ’s Supply .
Dianthusspecies are reasonably short - go and benefit from division every three to five years to regenerate works .
To disunite plants , utilise the same steps that are outlined in the Root Division section above .
To call for seeds , do n’t deadhead the last round of peak and allow the spent flowers to mould source heads .
To void fall behind the belittled germ , cut the radical before the pods dry out out entirely , then eat up dry out indoors in a tender , dry environment .
you may also reverse a minor newspaper bag over the seminal fluid heads and insure it in position with string or an elastic band .
Once the pods are dry , cut the stems and turn over bags right side up . Give them a good shake to accumulate the seeds in the bottom of the cup of tea .
A kitchen screen is a useful aid for carve up seed from the petal and pod straw – keep it in yourgarden totefor small - seeded plants likebasil , clove pink , andsnapdragons .
For full , vibrant clumps with new military volunteer each leap , use some of the last round of heyday for ego - seeding .
In fall when the seed heads are dry but not full undecided , leave them to spread out on their own or mash the pods and sprinkle the source munificently where they develop .
Not all gillyflower cultivars are self - seeding , but many are . To limit volunteers , if you ’d prefer , be certain to diligently deadhead after flowering .
Remove all in or spend materials and trim plant life by up to one - third by mid - autumn . Clean beds of dead or decaying material before winter to deter overwintering of uncongenial pathogens .
To protect works from winter coldness , habituate only free - run out mulch like pea plant gravel – heavy , water - retentive materials can lead to government issue like crown and root hogwash . handle the ancestor zona with two to four inches of gravel but depart the crown vindicated .
Cultivars to Select
With hundreds of cultivars , the range of carnation selection is extensive . Here are a few pop options to get you started :
CanCan Scarlet
An All - America Selections ( AAS ) achiever for its spicy sweetness , heat tolerance , and tenacious flowering season , the vividly colored ‘ CanCan Scarlet ’ produces shiny red clouds of two - inch , fully threefold , and highly fragrant bloom .
A vigorous grower with deep , even colorise , the well - branched plants uprise 12 to 15 inches on hard , wind - tolerant stems and flower from former leap into fall with unconstipated deadheading .
‘ CanCan Scarlet ’
Hardy in Zones 5 to 10 , commence sow indoors 12 to 14 week prior to your final frost date for first - year flowers .
semen areavailable at True Leaf Market .
Chabaud Blend
Old - fashioned charmers that are a must for the cut garden , this Chabaud blend feature fragrant bloom in a rainbow mix of colors include pink , purple , scarlet , ashen , and jaundiced .
The Chabaud series was developed in France in 1870 and remains among the most democratic for the home garden , value for their abundant sprays of laciniate and ruffled efflorescence , thick sweetness , and farsighted flowering season .
The edible , spicy - scented blossom flower from later spring into fall with regular deadheading and make excellent cutting flowers or a colored garnish for plates and cold drinks .
industrial plant grow up to 24 inches tall and are hardy in zone 6 to 9 .
Seed bundle areavailable at Botanical Interests .
La France
A extremely sweet-smelling heirloom cultivar with fine laciniate , bloom pink flowers , ‘ La France ’ also has a sweet spicy scent .
The vigorous plants grow 24 to 30 in tall and are well - branched , producing a profusion of flower from recent spring into drop if spent heyday are deadheaded .
‘ La France ’
Hardy in Zones 7 to 9 , ‘ La France ’ is often lead off indoors ahead of time and grown as an annual in other Zones .
mail boat and one - ounce package of semen areavailable Eden Brothers .
Magenta
A beautiful sprayer carnation with obtuse fork and potent stems , ‘ Magenta ’ is a brilliant shade of raspberry red with a stiff , spicy - sweet fragrance .
The dazzling , amply double heyday are ideal for bed , margin , container , and cutting garden , and bloom from other summer until icing with even deadheading .
‘ Magenta ’
Plants turn up to 24 inches and are hardy in Zones 6 to 10 .
Packets of seed in a variety of sizing areavailable at Walmart .
Marie Chabaud
A vintage classic with sweetly fragrant , frilly double peak of pallid lemon chicken , ‘ Marie Chabaud ’ flowers extravagantly from late give until late September , an excellent choice for bed , borders , and cut flowers .
Flowers are displayed on sturdy stems in copious spray and mature up to 24 inches .
‘ Marie Chabaud ’
plant are hardy in Zones 6 to 8 and can be grown as an annual in cold region . veritable deadheading prolongs anthesis .
Packets and one - snow leopard packages of seeded player areavailable at Eden Brothers .
Memories
A plant to think , ‘ Memories ’ is a highly scented dwarf variety loaded with fully double , pure snowy blooms that flower from recent saltation and into drop with regular deadheading .
‘ Memories ’
A beautiful choice for border front , containers , edging , and rockeries , the well - fork , petite plants organize neat , tidy mounds that grow 10 to 12 inch improbable . Hardy in Zones 5 to 9 .
Plants can be foundat Nature Hills Nursery .
Orange Sherbet
Sweetly satisfy in shades of precious coral and salmon , ‘ Orange Sherbet ’ flowers are double petaled and among the most fragrant of spray gillyflower .
Flowering from early summer through to September with unconstipated deadheading , the densely fork-like plants grow up to 24 inches marvelous and are hardy in Zones 6 to 8 .
‘ Orange Sherbet ’
Start seed indoors and grow ‘ Orange Sherbet ’ as an yearly in cold climates .
Packets and ounces of seeds areavailable at Eden Brothers .
Managing Pests and Disease
gillyflower are increasingly breed for improved disease resistance , but there are still a few consequence to watch for .
Aphids , mites , andthripsare common sapsucking pests that can cause streaking , spotting , and yellow on leaves , petals , and staunch .
Often a stiff jet of piddle from thegarden hoseis enough to take precaution of these dirt ball , but slow infestations can require the use of a pesticide such as neem crude .
Problems such as bacterial wilt ( Burkholderia caryophylli ) and fusarium wilt ( Fusarium oxysporum ) cause problem like drying , root word cracking , yellowing , and wilting , and are fateful to plants .
Remove and destroy infected industrial plant as soon as possible and farm unexampled plants in bed of sweet , pasteurised stain . Also , ward off overhead watering , which circulate bacterial growth through splashing .
Fungal problems such as botrytis blight ( Botrytis cinerea ) and rusting ( Uromyces dianthi ) can be deflect by ensuring good air circulation , and avoiding overhead watering or watering late in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
Remove and destroy septic materials , ensure your pecker are infertile when cutting flowers , and spray diagnostic plant with a instinctive fungicide like neem oil .
Bonide Neem Oil
you may find Bonide neem oil color concentrate in pint , quart , and gallon sizesat Arbico Organics .
Be sure to dilute it with water harmonize to package program line before utilization .
Best Uses
With their bewitching fragrance , bright colors , and long blossoming season , carnation supply vivid charm to a number of configurations .
For long - lasting , juicy pops of semblance , add them to beds , border , islands , rockeries , and containers .
To enjoy their fragrance , they ’re a born for edging path and patios , planters around induct areas , and window boxes as well .
They ’re a mainstay in butterfly stroke andcottage gardensas well as wildflower hayfield blend .
Anddon’t forget the cutting garden … you ’ll want to plant mass to convey these long - lasting and fragrant ( or not if you prefer ! ) beauties indoors for floral arrangements .
They ’re also a sentiency when dried and add together to potpourri blends or pressed for card , papermaking , post-horse , and more .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Showy and Perfumed
With their vivid , highly saturated colors and unfermented fragrance , carnation are a welcome increase throughout the garden .
Their easy care and long flowering clock time is ideal for plantings where their perfume can be savour , like edging beds and tract or in containers , patio planters , and windowpane box .
Plus , they ’re an excellent , pollinator - attracting addition to butterfly , bungalow , and rock garden .
However you practice them , be sure to establish plenty for cutting so you’re able to bring their showy , perfumed stunner indoors as well !
And formoreDianthusknow - how , be sure to add these guides to your indication list next :
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About
Lorna Kring
