The single flowers of the Carnations
species, Dianthus caryophyllus have 5 petals
and vary from white to pink to purple in
color. Border Carnation cultivars may have
double flowers with as many as 40 petals.
When grown in gardens, Carnations grow to
between 6 and 8.5 cm in diameter. Petals on
Carnations are generally clawed or serrated.
Carnations are bisexual flowers and bloom
simply or in a branched or forked cluster.
The stamens on Carnations can occur in one
or two whorls, in equal number or twice the
number of the petals.
Facts about Carnations
- Carnations express love, fascination and distinction.
- Carnations are native to Eurasia.
- Historically, Carnations are known to have been used for the first time by Greeks and Romans in garlands.
- The Carnation leaves are narrow and stalkless and their colour varies from green to grey-blue or purple.
- Carnations are exotic to Australia but have been grown commercially as a flower crop since 1954.
- Of the several kinds of Carnations, the three most common are annual Carnations, border carnations and perpetual-flowering carnations.
Carnations grow big, full blooms on strong, straight stems. Carnation blooms last a long time.
Types of Carnations
Carnation cultivars are mainly of three types:
- Large flowered Carnations - one large flower per stem.
- Spray Carnations (Mini Carnations) - with lots of smaller flowers .
- Dwarf flowered Carnations - several small flowers on one stem.
Carnations - Meanings
Carnations come in wide variety of colors and interestingly carnations in different colors are found to have different meanings. The Flower Expert makes an attempt to list out various meanings the carnations carry with them, in the following table:
Carnations What they Mean Carnations in general Fascination, Woman's Love Pink Carnations Mother's Love Light red Carnations Admiration Dark red Carnations Deep Love and Woman's Affection White Carnations Pure Love and Good Luck Striped Carnations Regret, Refusal Green Carnations St. Patrick's Day Purple Carnations Capriciousness Yellow Carnation Disappointment, Dejection Carnation plant care
- Carnations need some hours of full sun each day and should be kept moist.
- Avoid over-watering as it may tend to turn the foliage yellow.
- Spent flowers should be removed promptly to promote continued blooming.
- Quality of the bloom rests on the soil and irrigation aspects for growing carnations.
- Those who grow carnations should know the importance of pinching, stopping and disbudding.
- At the time of plucking the carnations, leave three to four nodes at the base and remove the stem.
- The plant foliage should not be exposed to the direct heat of a stove or the sun.
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