January Flower: Carnations
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Red dianthus growing in my Missouri hillside garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
January Flower: Carnations
When I hear the word “carnation,” I often think of a flower I have to pick up at a florist or floral section of a grocery store. But there is a more common garden flower in the same family, Dianthus, also called Pinks and Sweet William.
Dianthus plants may be found as a hardy annual, biennial or perennial. They are most often used in borders or potted displays. The plants are small and usually between 6 and 18 inches (15-46 cm.) tall. They were a very popular garden flower in the US in the 1950s and 1960s, it’s featured in this 1961 Complete Guide of Garden Flowers.
Dianthus flowers are most often in pink, salmon, red and white hues. The foliage is slender and sparsely spread on thick stems.
Dianthus had a short blooming season until 1971, when a breeder learned how to grow forms that did not set seed and, therefore, have a prolonged bloom period. Modern varieties will typically bloom from May to October.
Love the splash of red these spicy-scented Dianthus provide. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
.Different colors convey different meanings according to the “Language of Flowers.”
White carnations symbolize pure love, while yellow means “wish you were here.”
Pink says, “you’re unforgettable.”
A pale red denotes admiration and the idea that “my heart aches for you,” while dark red conveys feelings of deep love and affection.
Snowdrops, which indicate hope and beauty, are also flowers for this month but neither one is growing where I live. If I want to gift carnations, it’s off to a florist!
