Dianthus caryophyllus
| Dianthus caryophyllus | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Dianthus caryophyllus (common name: carnation)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in slight heat in a greenhouse[1]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks at 15°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Layering in July[1].
Cuttings of non-flowering basal shoots, June/July in a frame[2]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Cultivation: Succeeds in a sunny position in most good soils[3][2] tolerating a pH range from 6 to 8 but disliking acid soils[2]. A very tolerant plant, succeeding in the salt laden air and strong winds of the coast as well as in the sulphur polluted air of cities[2].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to about -10°c[2].
A very ornamental plant[1], the carnation is widely cultivated in the flower garden and is grown commercially in France for its essential oil[4]. There are many named varieties[2]. The flowers of the species have a rich clove-like perfume, though almost no scent is present in the orange and yellow-flowering cultivars[5].
The flowers are very attractive to butterflies and moths[6].
Plants are prone to mildew or leaf spot in humid climates[7].
Range: Europe - W. and S. France. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[6].
Habitat: A plant of limestone soils, it is often found on old walls in Britain[6].
Edibility: The flower petals have a strong smell of cloves and are candied, used as a garnish in salads, for flavouring fruit, fruit salads etc. They can also be used as a substitute for rose petals in making a syrup[8][9]. The petals should be removed from the calyx and their bitter white base should be removed[8].
Medicinal: Carnation flowers are an aromatic, stimulant herb that has been used in tonic cordials in the past to treat fevers, though this use is now obsolete[9]. It is traditionally prescribed in European herbal medicine to treat coronary and nervous disorders[10]. The flowers are considered to be alexiteric, antispasmodic, cardiotonic, diaphoretic and nervine[11].
The plant has been used as a vermifuge in China[11].
Usage: An essential oil is obtained from the flowers[4][12]. It is used in perfumery. 500kg of flowers produce 100g of oil[13]. The flowers are harvested when they are fully open in the morning, preferably after 3 hours exposure to sunlight[9].
The flower heads are dried and used in pot-pourri, scented sachets and cosmetic products[9][14].
The plant is quite rich in saponins. The leaves can be simmered in water and this water can then be used as a soap for cleaning the skin, clothes etc[7].
Pollinators: Lepidoptera
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing, 1979.