FAVOURITE FLOWERS No 3

Although I do really love camellias and am very fond of chrysanthemums I really must put CARNATION as my favourite "C" flower.   I have grown them, given them as a gift and also received them as a gift.  They are one flower that seems to please everyone with its simple beauty, fragrance and the fact that they are long lasting as a cut flower.

 

They are of course of the Dianthus family along with their smaller cousin the pinks.  

They are a herbaceous perennial growing to 80cms in height.  The leaves asere glaucous greyish-green to blue-green, slender up to 15cms long.  Carnations have been incultivation for over 2000 years. 

The flowers are produced singly or up to five together in a cyme they are 3-5 cms in diameter, and sweetly scented; the original flower colour is bright pinkish-purple. but cultivars of other colours, including, red, white, yellow and green, have been developed.

Some fragrance-less carnations cultivars are often used as boutonnieres for men.

Growing carnations:  They require well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and full sun.  Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden planting.  Colombia is the largest carnation producer in the world.

For the most part, carnations express love, fascination and distinction, although there are many variations of meaning, dependent on the colour.