A Detailed Explanation of the Distribution Range and Growth Habits of Carnations

Other names of carnation

Carnation, also known as lion's head dianthus, musk dianthus, fragrant dianthus, large-flowered dianthus, and Dutch dianthus, is a plant of 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: flowerbed carnations and florist carnations; the stems are clustered, hard in texture, grayish green, with swollen nodes, and about 50 cm in height. The leaves are thick and linear, opposite. The stems and leaves are similar to those of Dianthus chinensis but thicker and sturdier, 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 pointed tips, about one quarter the length of the calyx tube; the calyx tube is green, five-lobed; 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 to 9 months, and under protected cultivation it blooms all year round.

Growth habits of carnation

Carnation prefers a cool and dry ecological environment with ample sunlight and good ventilation. It has good cold resistance but 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 varying endlessly, and classification methods also differ.

By flowering habit: once-blooming type and ever-blooming type.

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

By cultivation method: open-field cultivation type (single-season flowering) and greenhouse cultivation type (continuous flowering possible).

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

By different uses: cut-flower varieties and potted varieties.

According to morphology, habits, and breeding origin, they are divided into eight systems (-- from "The Latest Horticultural Dictionary", Japan): flowerbed carnation, marguerite-type carnation, Chabaud carnation, Anne . D . Nance carnation, giant-flowered carnation, Malmaison carnation, perpetual-flowering carnation, and small-flowered carnation.

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

(2) Purple group varieties: flowers purple.

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

By flower size and number: they can also be divided by the size and number of flowers on the flower stem into large-flowered carnation and spray carnation.

Flower language of carnation

Carnations of different colors have different flower languages.

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

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

Yellow carnation: you make me feel disappointed, abandonment, contempt, long-lasting friendship, gratitude to mother, rejection, insult, disdain, eternal gratitude, deep friendship.

Cream-red carnation: sorrow.

Deep red carnation: passionate love.

Peach-red carnation: loving you.

Variegated carnation: rejecting your love.

Purple carnation: capriciousness, unpredictability.

Striped carnation: rejection, I cannot be with you.

Banded carnation: sorry.

Uses of carnation

Ornamental use. Carnation is an excellent cut-flower variety and a recognized flower for 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 the face, calming the nerves and quenching thirst, clearing the heart and brightening the eyes, reducing inflammation and relieving irritability, promoting salivation 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, has the effects of clearing the heart and removing dryness, detoxifying and beautifying the face, and regulating the endocrine system. At the same time, it has the effects of strengthening the kidneys and benefiting essence, treating consumptive disease, cough, and diabetes. 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 supporting vitality, strengthening the stomach and stimulating appetite, and regulating blood lipids for weight loss. When brewing carnation, it is suitable to pair with: forget-me-not, stock, rose queen, and wintersweet.