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Hardiness: USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Danger: Seed is poisonous if ingested Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color: Pink Red Pale Yellow White/Near White
Bloom Time: Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer
Foliage: Evergreen Blue-Green
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Flowers are fragrant
Soil pH requirements: 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
On Jul 30, 2008, Kurtis from New Prague, MN wrote:
I had several of these beautiful plants given to me two years ago by a friend and they bloomed all summer. I mulched them well the first winter and they bloomed again the next summer. Sadly, I forgot to mulch them last winter and they died after a hard frost early spring.
When I get more for a new bed, I'll be sure to mulch them well this winter.
Louise Beebe Wilder has this to say about the carnation's French origin in her book, The Fragrant Path:
"The wild Carnation with its five rose-crimson petals may be seen by travelers in France growing upon wild rocky places and upon the walls of many an ancient chateau, but nowhere so riotiously as at Chinon, the majestic ruin towering above the placid Loire."
She also says that many fragrant flowers were known as Gilliflowers, but the carnation was revered for having the strongest fragrance - red colors often being most pronounced.
On Oct 26, 2001, Crimson from Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b) wrote:
Sowing Instructions: Sow from late winter to early spring, just covering the seed with compost. Make sure that the compost is moist but not wet and seal in a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 7-14 days at 60-68F. Transplant when large enough and grow on in cooler conditions. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost 15-18in apart in a sunny spot on light well drained soil.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Phoenix, Arizona Dustin Acres, California Livermore, California Merced, California Santa Maria, California Ellicott City, Maryland Heidelberg, Minnesota Auburn, New Hampshire Port Norris, New Jersey Gates-north Gates, New York Elizabeth City, North Carolina Columbus, Ohio Ashland, Oregon Portland, Oregon Grape Creek, Texas White Center, Washington
One vendor has this plant for sale.
