Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) are flowering perennial plants that are often treated as annuals in cold climates. These Eurasian natives got their name from the Greco-Roman culture; the word dianthus means "flower of the gods," in Greek. Carnations work well as cut flowers, in flower beds and borders.
Identification
Carnation plants grow approximately 18 inches tall with an equal spread and a rounded form. They have waxy, grayish-green, lance-shaped foliage and produce fragrant 2- to 3-inch summer blossoms that vary in color from white to yellow, pink, salmon or red.
Growth Requirements
Carnations are hardy in United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6 through 9. They prefer full sunlight and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. They require medium amounts of water and have a moderate tolerance for heat. Carnations propagate through stem cuttings and seed division. The seeds require temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees to germinate, and usually sprout within two to three weeks after planting. The flower stems tend to droop and require staking or other support.
Varieties
Carnations are available in a wide variety of cultivars. Red Riding Hood produces red blossoms, while Cardinal, a Grenadin hybrid with a stout stem that requires minimal support, produces deep scarlet flowers. Lillipot, a dwarf cultivar, grows well as a container plant, only reaching heights of 8 to 10 inches. It produces small blossoms. Innocence, another Grenadin hybrid, yields white flowers, while Golden Sun produces yellow blooms. Exquisite is a white-blooming cultivar with violet-colored margins, while Elegance yields white flowers with rose-colored edges.
Carnation Pests
Spider mites, aphids and thrips frequently infest carnation plantings. Spider mites are tiny, eight-legged, oval-shaped arachnids that cannot be clearly seen without magnification. They thrive in hot weather, often attacking water-stressed plants. Aphids are pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects that vary in color depending on the species and what it has been eating. Thrips have slim, narrow bodies and fringed wings. All three insects puncture carnation foliage and drain sap from the plants, causing discolored plant tissue and stunted growth. Other insect pests include weevils, scales and caterpillars, among others.
Carnation Diseases
A number of different fungi cause powdery mildew infections in carnations. Powdery white spots of mildew form on the foliage, eventually growing together to cover entire leaves, shoots or flowers. The Plasmopara fungus causes downy mildew. The leaves develop yellowish, purple or brown spots on their upper surfaces, and fungal spores form on the lower surfaces. Several different viruses cause stunted growth, irregular coloration and leaf distortion in carnation flowers and foliage. They do not usually kill the plants, but they detract from their beauty. Carnations are also susceptible to diseases such as Alternaria blight, which is a leaf spot infection, as well as Fusarium wilt and Botrytis blight.
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