Is the carnation a herbaceous plant? Let us learn about carnations

Other names for carnation

Carnation, also known as lion's head dianthus, musk dianthus, fragrant dianthus, large-flowered dianthus, and Dutch dianthus, is a plant in the family Caryophyllaceae and the genus Dianthus.

Morphological characteristics of carnation

Carnation is an evergreen subshrub, cultivated as a perennial herbaceous flower. Because its petals have fringed edges and a fragrant scent, it is widely cultivated. It is generally divided into two types: garden carnations and florist carnations; the stems are clustered, hard in texture, grayish green, with swollen nodes, about 50cm tall, and the leaves are thick and linear, opposite. The stems and leaves are similar to those of Chinese dianthus but stouter, covered with white powder. The flowers are large, fragrant, solitary, in clusters of 2-3, or in cymes; below the calyx there are four rhombic-ovate bracteoles, with short acute tips, about one quarter the length of the calyx tube; the calyx tube is green, five-cleft; the petals are irregular, with toothed edges, single or double, in colors such as red, pink, yellow, and white. The flowering period is from 4 month to 9 month, and under protected cultivation it blooms in all four seasons.

Growth habits of carnation

Carnation prefers a cool and dry ecological environment with ample sunlight and good ventilation. It has good cold tolerance and relatively poor heat tolerance. The optimum growth temperature is 14--21°C. When the temperature exceeds 27°C or falls below 14°C, the plant grows slowly. It is suitable for planting in calcareous soil rich in humus and with good drainage. It likes fertilizer.

Variety classification of carnation

There are extremely many carnation varieties, with plant characteristics, flower forms, and flower colors changing in countless ways, and classification methods also vary.

By flowering habit: one-season flowering type, four-season flowering type.

By flower size: large-flowered type, small-flowered type.

By cultivation method: open-field cultivation type (one-season flowering), greenhouse cultivation type (can bloom continuously).

By cut flower pruning method: standard type (large-flowered type, one flower per stem), spray type (small-flowered type, multiple flowers per stem).

By different uses: cut flower varieties, potted varieties.

According to morphology, habits, and breeding origin, it is divided into eight systems (-- from "Latest Horticultural Dictionary" Japan): border carnation, marguerite-type carnation, Chabaud carnation, Anne . De . Nass carnation, giant-flowered carnation, Malmaison carnation, perpetual-flowering carnation, small-flowered carnation.

By flower color: (1) Bright red group varieties: flower colors include bright red, pink, and mixed colors, etc.

(2) Purple group varieties: flowers purple.

(3) Flesh-colored group varieties: flowers agate-colored, pale yellow, yellow, etc.

By flower size and number: it can also be divided by the size and number of flowers on the stem into two types: large-flowered dianthus and spray dianthus.

The flower language of carnation

Carnations of different colors have different flower languages.

White carnation: sweet and lovely, innocent, pure love, a gift that brings women good luck, purity, pure friendship, my living love, my love forever, faith, elegant love, true affection, respect.

Pink carnation: I will never forget you, beauty, youth, passionate love, wishing mother forever young and beautiful; moved, bright, maternal love, a woman's love, I love you ardently.

Red carnation: my heart aches for you, appreciation, worship, infatuation, family affection, passionate love, enthusiasm, a wounded heart, longing, belief in your love, wishing mother health and longevity, wishing you health.

Yellow carnation: you disappoint me, abandonment, contempt, long-lasting friendship, gratitude to mother, rejection, humiliation, disdain, eternal gratitude, deep friendship.

Beige-red carnation: sorrow.

Dark red carnation: passionate love.

Peach-red carnation: loving you.

Variegated carnation: rejecting your love.

Purple carnation: capriciousness, unpredictability.

Speckled carnation: rejection, I cannot be with you.

Striped carnation: sorry.

The uses of carnation

Ornamental use. Carnation is an excellent cut flower variety and is the recognized flower of Mother's Day. Its flower colors are delicate and beautiful, it is fragrant, and it has a long flowering period. It is suitable for various flower arrangement needs and is often combined with gladiolus, asparagus fern, asparagus, and ferns to form beautiful bouquets. Dwarf varieties can also be used for potted ornamental display. The flowers can also be used to extract essence.

Carnation flower tea. Carnation has the effects of beautifying and nourishing the face, calming the nerves and quenching thirst, clearing the heart and brightening the eyes, reducing inflammation and relieving irritability, promoting fluid production and moistening the throat, and strengthening the stomach and reducing food stagnation. It has a clear effect on treating headaches and toothaches. It contains various trace elements needed by the human body, can accelerate blood circulation, promote metabolism, clear the heart and remove dryness, detoxify and beautify the face, and regulate the endocrine system. It also has the effects of strengthening the kidneys and benefiting essence, treating consumptive disease, cough, and excessive thirst. It clears the liver and cools the blood, whitens the skin, and removes spots and wrinkles. It can improve blood circulation, enhance the body's metabolism, and has effects such as clearing the heart and removing dryness, detoxifying and beautifying the face, delaying aging, regulating the female endocrine system, tonifying the kidneys and boosting vitality, strengthening and stimulating the appetite, and regulating blood lipids for weight loss. When brewing carnation, it is suitable to pair with: forget-me-not, violet, rose king, and wintersweet.