Carnations delight in pots and flower beds—discover varieties and choose your favorites
Carnations are a fantastic choice for sunny and warm gardens or balconies. Available as both annuals and perennials, they are not only beautiful but also easy to grow. Dive into our article to explore the diverse species of carnations!
The carnation, or pink, (Dianthus) is a beloved summer flower and perennial. Their popularity stems from their resilience, ease of care, and striking beauty. Among the various carnation types, you’ll find the perfect plant for pots, balconies, flower groups, or to use as a border plant for shrubs, rock gardens, or ground cover.
Carnations bloom profusely and for an extended period in late summer, showcasing flowers in shades of pink, white, and lilac. The leaves are small and narrow, and many carnations attract butterflies and pollinators with their fragrance.
As cut flowers, carnations are unmatched—they can last up to three weeks in a vase.
Perennial carnations
Many perennial carnations are winter-hardy if they have suitable growing conditions. They thrive in well-draining, sandy soil in sunny or even scorching locations. It’s recommended to lime the growing medium.
Perennial garden carnations do not tolerate winter wetness. Avoid excessive watering, as young seedlings are particularly susceptible to damping-off. Waterlogged roots can lead to rot.
Also read this article on carnation care and cultivation [in Finnish]!
Varieties of carnations for pots and flower beds
China pink
Also known as rainbow pink, this annual blooms all summer long and is ideal for pots, flower beds, or as a border plant in sunny locations. It features large flowers in shades of pink, red, lilac, white, or multicolored. Remove wilted flowers and fertilize with a mild fertilizer suitable for flowering plants. In favorable winters, summer carnations can overwinter in the ground.
Height: about 15–25 cm.
Maiden pink
Durable and easy to care for, this perennial thrives in sunny locations. It grows wild in Finland and is quite common, spreading easily and occupying big areas. The low-growing maiden pink is well-suited for rock gardens, walls, and as a meadow flower in sparse meadows. It thrives best in nutrient-poor, well-draining, and slightly dry soil. Blooms profusely as a mound from June to August, with red, white, or pink flowers.
Height: about 10–20 cm.
Amur pink
A perennial and long-blooming pink for sunny spots. Suitable for growing in pots or as a border plant for other plants. Purple flowers bloom from July to September. Hardy.
Height: about 15–30 cm.
Sweet William
This biennial, showy carnation is perfect for sunny locations. Its spherical inflorescence is composed of many small flowers. Sweet William can be propagated from seeds, and it forms a leaf rosette in the first year and blooms the following summer after sowing, from July to August. Sweet William attracts pollinators.
Height: depending on the variety, 20–60 cm.
Common pink
A perennial species ideal as ground cover, with a clumping, mat-like growth habit. The simple or double, fragrant flowers come in white, pink, or red. Double-flowered species are more sensitive to winter conditions than simple ones. Blooms abundantly from July to August and is a favorite of butterflies.
Height: about 20–40 cm depending on the variety.
Fringed pink
A perennial pink with fringed and light purple flowers in July–August. The fragrant flowers attract moths. The fringed pink grows naturally in Finland along roadsides, shores, shore meadows, rocks, and other dry, nutrient-poor places.
Height: about 25–60 cm.
Did you know?
Carnations are toxic, but small amounts ingested usually do not cause symptoms.
