2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Carnation (lat. Dianthus) - a genus of flowering annual and perennial plants belonging to the Clove family (lat. Caryophyllaceae). The genus includes more than 300 species, most of which are actively used in decorative gardening and for drawing up bouquets. In nature, plants are found in Africa, Europe, North America, as well as Asian countries. In Russia, carnation is far from the last place; it is cultivated both on personal household plots and in large city parks and gardens.
Characteristics of culture
Carnation is represented by annual, biennial or perennial herbaceous plants or dwarf shrubs bearing opposite, linear, subulate or lanceolate green foliage. Flowers are predominantly single or collected in few-flowered paniculate or capitate inflorescences. The calyx of flowers is cylindrical or conical in shape, tubular, equipped with a huge number of longitudinal veins and tiled bracts.
The petals are small, have a horizontal solid, serrated or fringed plate and marigold. The main part of the species is represented by simple flowers, there are also varieties and hybrids with semi-double or double flowers. The color of the flowers, depending on the variety, is different, there are white, red, wine, pink, yellow, purple, orange and even lilac specimens. Fruits of representatives of the genus Carnation are unilocular capsules containing black, round or elongated, flat, small seeds.
Common types
* Alpine carnation (lat. Dianthus alpinus) is a species represented by perennial plants no more than 25 cm high, which form incredibly beautiful red flowers in the process of growth, equipped with a purple speck in the middle. The species is used to decorate rocky gardens, including alpine hills with calcareous soils.
* Amur carnation (Latin Dianthus amurensis) - the species is characterized by perennial plants about 50-55 cm high, bearing bluish-green linear-lanceolate foliage, over which pink or pale lilac flowers with a dark ring on the petals rise. The species in question blooms profusely from the second decade of June, the duration of flowering is 1-2 months. Suitable for decorating rocky gardens, also cultivated in groups on the lawn.
* Hybrid carnation (Latin Dianthus hybrida) is a large group of varieties bred by crossing different types of carnations, for example, pinnate and garden carnations. Most varieties belonging to a hybrid species reach a height of 30-35 cm. Some have simple flowers, but most of them are semi-double or double. The main colors are red, pink and white. Almost all of them have a pleasant and very strong aroma that flutters over long distances. Some varieties can boast of high winter-hardy properties, but in severe winters they cannot do without good shelter.
* Pinnate carnation (Latin Dianthus plumarius), another name - Hungarian carnation. The species is quite common, it is a plant up to 30 cm high, forming in the process of growth dense clumps with gray oblong foliage and fragrant simple or semi-double flowers of white, red, pink or pale purple color. Differs in abundant and bright flowering, which lasts about 1 month. As before, today the species is actively used in breeding to create new varieties and hybrids.
* Carnation Carthusian (lat. Dianthus carthusinorum) is a species characterized by perennial evergreens up to 80 cm in height with tetrahedral stems topped with elongated pointed foliage and pink or pale purple flowers, collected in few-flowered, plant-shaped inflorescences with sharp-toothed heads attractiveness. Abundant flowering, lasts almost 2 months. The species is undemanding, relatively winter-hardy.
Care features
There is nothing complicated in carnation care, this process is subject to even a novice gardener and florist. It consists in providing plants with a sufficient amount of moisture, nutrients, and procedures that are standard for many flower crops, that is, weeding, loosening and, of course, combating pests and diseases, which often bother cloves. Unfortunately, some types and varieties of carnations cannot boast of high winter-hardy properties, therefore, they need a special approach.
With the onset of autumn cold weather, it is important to provide carnations with a good shelter, which can be spruce branches. Removal of the shelter is carried out with the establishment of stable heat, at the same time the first feeding is carried out with full mineral fertilizer. Re-feeding is carried out during budding, the third - immediately after flowering. You should also monitor the condition of the soil, most of the species prefer neutral loamy soils, some need lime. When planting, it is important to clarify this nuance with specialists.
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Flowering Perennials (aster And Carnation)
Aster and carnation are symbolic flowers. Astra is associated with a bouquet of flowers in the hands of schoolchildren rushing to their favorite class on September 1 after a long summer vacation. Carnation is a symbol of two other holidays. It was celebrated on the Day of the October Revolution, forgotten and abused today, and after the victory over Nazi Germany, the carnation became a symbol of the difficult victory that the Soviet people inherited with large losses of red blood. So bright carnations remind of the high price of victory, warning against further mistakes. H
Armeriiform Carnation
Armeriiform carnation is one of the plants of the family called carnation, in Latin the name of this plant will sound as follows: Diantus armeria L. As for the name of the family of carnation, in Latin it will be like this: Caryophyllaceae Juss.
Bearded Carnation
Carnation bearded, or Turkish is a biennial herbaceous ornamental plant, whose name in Latin sounds like this: Dianthus barbatus. This flower culture belongs to the Carnation family, its homeland is Central Europe and the Caucasus. One of the most popular flowers among landscape designers, gardeners and florists, as it is unpretentious, has a long and colorful flowering period, as well as a delicate refined aroma.
Alpine Carnation
Alpine carnation Is a flowering ornamental perennial plant, in Latin its name will sound like this: Dianthus alpinus. It belongs to the genus Carnation of the Carnation family. In the wild, the presented plant species grows in the elevated territories of the Alps and in the North-East of Italy.
Carnation Two-color
Carnation two-color Is a perennial herb from the genus Carnations of the Carnation family, in Latin its name will sound Dianthus bicolor. In nature, this flower culture grows on the slopes and fields in dry thickets of grass and shrubs, is common in the Caucasus mountains and on the territory of the republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
