Dianthus Caryophyllus

Botanical Name :Dianthus Caryophyllus Common Name :Dianthus, carnation, clove pink, carnation red Order : Caryophyllales Family : Caryophyllaceae

Description - A race of perennials and annuals native to southern Europe, northern Africa and North America.
D. caryophyllus is the Carnation, Clove-Pink, Picotee and Grenadine.
The foliage varies in thickness and sometimes is as fine as coarse grass, glaucous green in colour. The flower-stems vary from a foot high in the case of Pinks to three feet for Carnations. The fragrant flowers are borne on the terminals of the stems in small quantities. Carnations are usually grown under glass, except Border Carnations, which may be grown out-of-doors, but these are hardly suitable for herbaceous borders.
The Pinks comprise such groups as the allwoodii, herbertii and winteri.
Varieties of the laced type, also “Mrs.sinkins” and “Inchmery” are old favorites. D.sinensis is the Indian or Chinese pink with a wide range of colour.
D. barbatus is the popular Sweet William which flowers in clustered heads.
Propagation is by cuttings, layering and seed.
The flowering season extends throughout the summer

Kingdom - Plantae

Genus - Asclepias

Origin / Native - Europe, Asia, Africa, Mediterranea

Category&Life Cycle - Annual, Perennial herb

Height - 12 inches to 2 feet tall

Flowers - Large, showy, fragrant, red

Flowering colors - Red, yellow

Foliage - Greyish green

National flower of - Spain

Light requirement & care - Sunny, open, good, free draining soil

ProPagation - From seeds

Cultivation - Spring- Plant immature stock from pots, Late summer-Remove old flower heads & trim lacking in restraint[unmanageable, unruly] plants

Pests & Diseases - Aphids cause problems, Rust, Anther smut may occur

Suitable for - Borders, pots, containers, rock gardens, cut flowers

Dianthus caryophyllus red full bloom

Dianthus caryophyllus flower bud

Photographs: Guna Selvi Camera: Nikon D40x Location : Government Botanical Gardens, Ooty, Tamilnadu, South India