The wonderfully fragrant and richly flowering carnations (Dianthus) form dense carpets of flowers. The mostly two-year-old perennials thrive in almost every garden and require little care. However, location and soil conditions are not the same for all species and varieties, which is why we are telling you the optimal planting conditions for popular carnation species here.
How to plant carnations in the garden?
Carnations prefer a sunny location and different soil conditions depending on the species. They can be planted in April/May and propagated by seeds, cuttings or division. Carnations bloom from June to September and are also suitable for balcony planting.
Which location do carnations prefer?
Basically, all carnations, regardless of the variety, are very sun-hungry plants. The sunnier the perennials are, the more lush the growth and flowering will be.
Which soil do carnations grow best in?
However, things are completely different when it comes to soil conditions, because the numerous types of carnations sometimes require very different substrates. You can find the relevant requirements in the table below. Basically, and this applies to all carnations, the soil should be loose and permeable. Waterlogging should be avoided.
| Art | Origin | Floor | Preparing the soil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heidennelke | Moors in flat and hilly areas | prefers acidic soils | do not lime |
| thoroughly incorporate humus/compost | |||
| Carnation | Eastern Europe, East Asia, Lowlands | moist, nutrient-rich | thoroughly incorporate humus/compost |
| Feather carnation | Alps | calcareous, barren, rather dry | Lime fertilization |
| best rock gardens | |||
| Carthusian Carnation | limestone dry grassland, sandy forests, heaths | sandy, permeable, rather dry | lean nutrient-rich soil with sand |
| Carnation | Moors, wet meadows, wet forests | moist | best near the pond |
| Chinese carnation | Grasslands, sparse forests | sandy | lean nutrient-rich soil with sand |
When should carnations be planted?
Carnations are best planted in April / May.
What planting distance should you keep?
Depending on the type, carnations are planted approximately 15 to 30 centimeters apart.
Can cloves be sown directly?
You can also sow carnations in pots from March / April and grow them on the windowsill.
Are carnations suitable for growing in pots on the balcony?
Many species of carnations - especially those that prefer calcareous soils - are ideal for balcony planting. Some varieties even form hanging flowers that grow up to half a meter out of the balcony box.
When do carnations bloom?
Depending on the variety, carnations bloom continuously between June and September.
How are biennial carnations propagated?
You can propagate carnations by seeds, cuttings also by division.
Good neighbors / Bad neighbors
Carnations get along very well with many other sun-hungry perennials and look particularly pretty in combination with daisies, lavender, foxgloves, sage, bluebells or cherries.
Tip
If you want to plant carnations in spring, it is best to dig up the planting site thoroughly in the fall beforehand and work under ripe compost or rotted manure.
