Carnation Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane' (b)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane' is a charming flowering plant that exudes a delightful fragrance. This perennial boasts a dense array of foliage that is narrow and bluish-green in color, providing a lush background for the blossoms. The flowers themselves are the true spectacle, with their frilly edges that give them a lacy, delicate appearance. Each bloom displays a vibrant pink hue that ranges from soft to more intensely pigmented tones. At the center of the flowers, a contrasting ring, often in a darker or lighter color, adds depth and interest, making each petal stand out. The blooms are arranged singularly or in small clusters atop slender stems that emerge from the foliage, creating an eye-catching display of color and texture. With their sweet scent and striking flowers, these plants are particularly attractive to butterflies and are an excellent choice for adding a touch of elegance to any garden setting.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae.
- Synonyms
  No common names available.
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Carnation, which is the most common name for Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane' (b), is generally considered non-toxic to humans. There are no significant symptoms of poisoning associated with the ingestion of carnations. However, sensitivity or allergic reactions could occur in some individuals, and they could experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort or skin irritation.
- To pets
  Carnations are considered mildly toxic to pets. If ingested by cats or dogs, they might experience mild gastrointestinal upset, which could include symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea. It is advisable to keep an eye on your pet and consult with a veterinarian if any concerning symptoms arise after ingestion.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Blue-green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Spread
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal - The Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane' adds vibrant color and texture to gardens with its delightful pink, purple, or white flowers that bloom from late spring into early summer.
- Easy to Grow - This plant is known for being hardy and relatively easy to care for, making it an ideal choice for both experienced and novice gardeners.
- Drought Resistance - It has good drought tolerance once established, reducing the need for frequent watering and making it suitable for drier climates or water-wise gardens.
- Attracts Pollinators - The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, which play a crucial role in the health of your garden and the environment.
- Edging and Borders - With its compact growth habit, Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane' is excellent for creating defined edges or borders in a garden landscape.
- Ground Cover - It can serve as a ground cover, filling in gaps and suppressing weeds due to its dense foliage.
- Container Gardening - This variety is well-suited for container gardening, allowing those with limited space to enjoy its beauty on patios, balconies, or terraces.
- Seasonal Interest - Offering extended bloom times, Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane' provides seasonal interest from spring through early summer and sometimes reblooming in fall.
- Fragrant Flowers - The blooms are often fragrant, adding a pleasant scent to the garden or when used as cut flowers in arrangements.
- Low Maintenance - This plant typically requires minimal upkeep regarding pruning, feeding, and disease prevention.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane', commonly known as carnations, can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, offering hues such as soft pinks and vibrant reds depending on the concentration of the petals.
- In crafts, carnation petals can be incorporated into homemade paper, giving it a unique texture and flecks of color.
- Carnations can be freeze-dried and used in decorative resin jewelry, preserving their beauty in pendants, earrings, and bracelets.
- The bloom's intricate pattern lends itself well to the art of pressed flowers, used in picture frame decoration or bookmark crafting.
- Carnation petals can serve as a source of natural confetti at weddings and celebrations, being both biodegradable and colorful.
- Cooked carnation petals can be used in the intricate art of flower jellies, adding a floral note and aesthetic appeal to spreads.
- The strong fragrance of the carnation makes it suitable for potpourri blends, creating a pleasant aroma for indoor spaces.
- Carnation petals can be used to adorn cocktails and mocktails, providing an edible garnish that elevates the presentation of beverages.
- The flowers can be incorporated into bath bombs and bath salts, infusing the water with a soothing scent and skin-softening properties.
- Carnations can be used to create floral water, which can then be used as a scented spray for linens or rooms.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Carnation is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Carnation is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Love: The Dianthus is often associated with love due to its enduring beauty and timeless appeal, representing a love that withstands the test of time.
- Admiration: With its bright and attractive blooms, the Dianthus flower signifies admiration and can be given to someone whom you hold in high esteem.
- Passion: The vivid colors and spicy fragrance of Dianthus flowers are indicative of deep passion and a strong sense of attachment.
- Dignity: The Dianthus, or commonly known as Pink, carries a connotation of dignity and nobility, often used in floral arrangements to convey respect.
- Divine Love: Historically, Pinks have been associated with the concept of divine love, transcending the mere physical realm.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Carnations prefer to be kept evenly moist but not soggy. It is important to allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again. Typically, watering once a week with about 1-2 gallons, depending on the size of the plant and the environmental conditions, is sufficient. During hotter, dryer periods, they may need watering more frequently. It's essential to water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases.
Light
Carnations thrive in full sunlight, which means they need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. The best spot for a carnation would be in a south-facing garden where they can receive ample sunlight throughout the day. If grown indoors, they should be placed near a window that provides bright, indirect light or supplemented with grow lights.
Temperature
Carnations do best in moderate temperatures and can generally tolerate temperatures ranging from 40°F to 80°F. Ideal growing temperatures are between 60°F and 70°F. They can survive short periods of frost, but prolonged exposure to temperatures below the freezing point can damage or kill the plant.
Pruning
Carnations require pruning to promote bushier growth and more abundant blooms. Deadheading, or the removal of spent flowers, should be done regularly to encourage more buds to form. Pruning should be done in the early spring, cutting back the stems to about one-third of their length. This helps to maintain the shape of the plant and remove any winter damage.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Pinks (the common name for Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane') should be well-draining with a mix of loam, compost, and gritty material like sand or perlite. The ideal pH level for Pinks is slightly alkaline to neutral, ranging from 7.0 to 7.5, which helps promote healthy growth and flowering.
Repotting
Pinks (the common name for Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane') do not require frequent repotting; they should be repotted once every 2-3 years or if you notice that the plant has outgrown its current container or the soil has depleted.
Humidity & Misting
Pinks (the common name for Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane') prefer low to moderate humidity levels and can tolerate dry air, making them suitable for typical indoor environments; they do not thrive in highly humid conditions.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright light, allow soil to dry before watering.
- Outdoor
  Full sun, well-draining soil, protect from winter wet.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane' (b), commonly known as Carnation or Pinks, begins its life cycle as a seed, which, once sown, will germinate into a seedling under suitable conditions of light, temperature, and moisture. After germination, the seedling grows into a vegetative state, developing a robust root system, foliage, and a woody base, typically forming a clump of grassy, blue-green foliage. The vegetative stage progresses until environmental cues such as daylight length and temperature signal the onset of the flowering stage, where the Carnation produces its distinctive pink, red, or white fragrant flowers. Post pollination, these flowers then produce seeds, completing the plant’s reproductive cycle. After setting seed, the plant may enter a period of dormancy, particularly in colder climates, to survive adverse weather before resuming growth in the next season. For perennials like Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane' (b), this cycle repeats annually, with the plant potentially living and flowering for several years.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The Dianthus 'Spinfield Lane', also known as a variety of carnation, is typically propagated by stem cuttings. This method is most successful when performed during the plant's active growth period, which is late spring to early summer. To propagate by cuttings, select a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a 4-6 inch (10-15 cm) segment just below a leaf node. Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut end into rooting hormone powder to encourage root development. The cutting should then be placed in a mix of peat and perlite or sand, ensuring that at least two nodes are buried beneath the medium. The cutting should be kept in a warm, brightly lit area but out of direct sunlight and maintained moist until roots have established, which may take two to four weeks. Once rooted, the new plants can be potted individually and acclimated to outdoor conditions before planting out.