PlantFiles: Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus

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.

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.