Illustration
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Also comes in red, white, yellow and purple.
Carnation blooms from June through August.
Months here are Northern Hemisphere months; in the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by six months.
Growing Carnation
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Expect it to reach about 20 in tall and 12 in wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years (not yet checked).
What this means
Written with AI assistance and not yet checked plant by plant against recorded sources, so treat every fact above as a starting point. Its scientific name was checked against botanical registries, an audit keeps its values consistent with the rest of the library, and a July 2026 review re-read the main facts of every plant then in the library against horticultural authorities without recording a source for each, which is why none of that counts as checked here. The source-by-source check is working through the whole library in the open, and a checked plant says so in this row.
When to plant Carnation
Plant Carnation in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. In zone 7, the middle of its hardy zones 5 to 9, spring means March to May and fall means September or October. Once settled, it blooms from June to August.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar; if you garden near zone 7, the middle of this plant's hardy range, start with zone 7 in March. Derived from the plant's category, zones and bloom months plus typical zone frost dates, not checked separately.
How big does Carnation get?
20 intall5 ft 7 inan adult12 inwideSee Carnation in a garden plan: the planner shows it in 3D beside everything else you add, growing toward this size over the years.
How far apart to plant Carnation
Derived from the mature spread above by a fixed rule, not checked separately: spacing is the spread, center to center.
Space Carnation about 12 in apart, center to center, so each plant has room to reach its full width.
Add Carnation to a garden plan and the planner draws it at its full width, so you see the spacing before you buy.
Good to know about Carnation
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note. A note reports what its source says; where that differs from a fact above, the fact above is this entry's stored value, and its mark says whether it has been checked.
Safety
Mildly toxic to dogs, cats and horses: eating it causes mild stomach upset, and the sap can cause mild skin irritation. per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
What shortens a carnation's life is summer heat, not winter cold. Where summers are hot it declines and is grown as an annual; cool summers keep it perennial. per NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden
Height splits by type
Border garden carnations reach about 0.4 m (16 in); the tall florist types grown for cut flowers reach 0.9 to 1.2 m (3 to 4 ft). per NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden
Signature clove scent
The spicy clove scent is the group's signature. Ruffled semi-double to double blooms sit on stiff stems above narrow, waxy, blue-green foliage. per NC State
Sharp drainage fights disease
The wet conditions that cause crown and root rot also drive rust, leaf spot, and Botrytis. Sharp drainage and dry leaves fight all of them. per NC State and Penn State
Petals are edible
NC State lists the flowers as edible for people, a traditional flavoring and garnish. This does not make the plant safe for pets. per NC State
Deer and rabbit resistant
Reported deer and rabbit resistant: the aromatic, bitter foliage is not favored by browsers once plants are established. per NC State and Wisconsin
What pairs well with Carnation
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Aster
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early fall as this one finishes; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both offer pollinator forage.
Rock Cress
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 4 in, for the front of the border.
Flowering Crabapple
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; echoes the pink.
Viburnum
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; taller at 6.5 ft, for the layer behind it; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Switchgrass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both offer pollinator forage.
Autumn Crocus
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early fall as this one finishes; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Lilac
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; taller at 10 ft, for the layer behind it; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Explore similar plants
You might also like
Design a garden with this
Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.