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Carnations (Dianthus) translates as Flowers of Gods. It has three major types based on sizes and exists in hundreds of variations. Carnations come in a variety of hues, each with its significance suited for particular occasions or symbolisms. Typically, they need very little maintenance to nurture these plants.
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Table of Contents
The three main types of carnations
- Large flowers, one big bloom per stalk
2. Dwarf flowers, the tiniest kind of carnation
3. Spray flowers, each stem with numerous smaller blooms
Most common varieties of carnations
1.Dianthus caryophyllus – Carnation
When people think about carnations, this is the variety that most people consider. They appear in several colors, including red, pink, salmon, and white, with greyish-green leaves. They like a humid environment to grow in.
It’s difficult to say where this carnation variety comes from because it’s been grown for almost 2,000 years, but most experts believe it came from the Mediterranean region. They thrive in full sun and neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Some well-known Dianthus caryophyllus cultivars are Red Rocket, Laced Romeo, Gina Porto, Salmon in color, Grenadin King of the Blacks, and Vienna Mix.
2. Dianthus barbatus – Sweet William
The first year you plant this variety of carnation, it will germinate and thrive. It begins to bloom in the second year, and because it quickly reseeds, you will have new crops every year.
One of the most appealing features of the Sweet William carnation is that it thrives in almost all environments, making it suitable for most gardeners. Sweet Williams comes in many colors, including salmon, pink, white, red, and a unique fragrance and scent.
- Sweet William is edible and endemic to areas of Asia and Southern Europe. It may reach a height of two feet and has clusters of half-inch blooms. It also attracts bees, butterflies, and birds, and it may have healing potential. It often has five petals, each with serrated edges. The following is a list of its several kinds.
- Dianthus Barbatus var. Barbatus. The leaves are pretty broad and come from southern Europe.
- Dianthus Barbatus var. Asiaticus. Its leaves are pretty thin and narrow, and it comes from northern Asia.
- Dwarf plants. These are two-flowered plants that only reach a certain height. The Pinocchio type only reaches 9 inches, while the Wee Willie only reaches 5 inches. These blooms come in a variety of colors, including bicolor, red, pink, and white.
- Tall types. The Giant Imperial, Hollandia series, Cinderella Mix, and Amazon series are among them.
- Medium tall types. Examples of cultivars in this group are Heart Attack, with reddish-black flowers and a height of one foot, and Sooty, with dark chocolate and maroon blossoms, red stems, and foliage that turn mahogany in the early summer.
- Interspecific crosses. Many novel hybrids have emerged as a result of the Dianthus species’ easy cross-pollination. Dianthus Chinensis x Barbatus is a hybrid of the Chinese Pinks and Sweet William. This flower is more heat and cold tolerant than others, and it also produces more blooms. Furthermore, the Ideal series features flowers that reach up to 10 inches in length and are available in 18 various hues.
- Scarlett Beauty. They have a wonderful scent and clusters of vivid red blooms.
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3. Dianthus grataniapolitensis – Cheddar Pinks
Cheddar Pinks are perennial flowers that blossom in the summer and have a lovely shade of pink blooms that are also quite fragrant. Because they grow in a thick mat, gardeners frequently utilize the Cheddar Pinks as a groundcover. They bloom from May to June and may reach a height of one foot when grown in full sunshine, their best condition.
Cheddar Pinks have a strong fragrance and thrive when neither over nor under-watered. Furthermore, they have a lovely rose-pink tint and do not survive excessively damp or cold soil. Since 1975, the Cheddar Pinks have been a protected species in the United Kingdom.
4. Dianthus deltoides – Maiden Pinks
These carnations come in two colors which are red and pink, and they bloom throughout the summer. They are short-term perennials that gardeners utilize as a groundcover. They’re indigenous to western Asia and most of Europe, but they’re new to the United States.
The flowers of the Maiden Pinks are loosely tufted, and the foliages are slender and very green. Confetti White, Flashing Light, and Arctic Fire are cultivars in this group.
5.Dianthus chinensis – Hardy Annual Dianthus
This carnations type doesn’t do well in hot, humid conditions. They thrive in alkaline soil, and if you expose them to hot, humid conditions, they will wither away and die. The Hardy Annual Dianthus blooms from spring through fall and is generally red, white, or pink-colored.
They are also known as China Pinks or Rainbow Pinks and are native to northern China, Mongolia, southeastern Russia, and Korea. They may be grown individually or in tiny clusters and feature green to greyish-green leaves.
6. Dianthus plumarius
This carnation is a simple pink color that is highly popular among carnation enthusiasts. They may reach a height of 2 feet and generally have five pink petals with fringed edges. From May through August, they bloom. They came from Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria but are now widely distributed throughout the Midwest, South, and Northeast.
7. Dianthus armeria
The Dianthus armeria is a grassy pink flower with five vibrant red petals in tiny clusters at the top of the stalks and native to most of Europe. They blossom from early to late summer and can reach 12 inches in the wild. However, they can attain much greater heights when cared for correctly.
8. Dianthus pavonius
These peacock (dark) pink carnations are short-stemmed and grow to be less than 10 inches tall. The leaves are pointy and bluish-green in hue, while the flowers are purple-pink with brown or blue centers. They bloom from April to May, and their fruit capsules contain numerous brown, flat seeds. They are a striking and eye-catching carnation.
9. Dianthus seguieri
This variety has broad petals with nearly appears to have only one in a lovely shade of pastel pink. They feature green leaves and pink blooms with purple streaks in the center that may grow to over 2 feet in height. They bloom from June to September and produce capsuled fruit with numerous brown seeds within. The blooms thrive in arid, low-lying environments.
10. Dianthus superbus
This type is a popular carnation that comes with either regular or fringed edges. With a green core, it comes in red, white, or purple. You may lengthen the flower’s blooming span with the deadheading method, and it also has a pleasant smell. The smell of the Dianthus Superbus is simple to experience because it grows low to the ground, and the bloom also contains delicious nectar.
This type is one flower that you can eat if you boil it first, and the resulting tea can be used for a variety of purposes, including contraceptive, infection prevention, and diuretic effects, to mention a few.
