Carnation Dianthus 'Milky Way' (pf)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

perpetual-flowering carnation 'Milky Way'

ABOUT

The Dianthus 'Milky Way' is a flowering plant known for its distinctive and striking appearance. The blooms display a rich palette of colors, often featuring a crisp white base that serves as a canvas for the vivid, deep-pink to red borders that bleed into the petal edges, reminiscent of a celestial galaxy. Each petal is typically adorned with a frilled or serrated edge, adding a further touch of elegance to the overall appearance of the flower. The leaves of the Dianthus 'Milky Way' offer a subtle yet pleasing contrast with their slender, grass-like form and blue-green hue. They are arranged in a dense fashion, laying the foundation for the colorful spectacle of the flowers that rise above them. The foliage is often evergreen, providing visual interest even when the plant is not in active bloom. The structure of the plant usually presents itself with a neat, compact, and clump-forming habit. This creates a tidy mound of foliage and flowers that can add texture and a burst of color to garden beds, borders, or containers. When in full bloom, the Dianthus 'Milky Way' can become a focal point in any garden setting, attracting onlookers with its captivating floral patterns and soft, pleasing fragrance. This plant is favored in gardens not just for its looks, but also for its ability to bring a touch of whimsy and vibrancy to any planting scheme.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Carnation, Pink, Sweet William
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Milky Way'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Dianthus 'Milky Way' commonly known as Carnation, is not considered highly toxic to humans. However, if ingested in large quantities, parts of the plant can potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset including nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It is always advisable to avoid eating any part of ornamental plants as some people may have more sensitive reactions.
- To pets
  For pets, the Carnation (Dianthus 'Milky Way') is also typically not highly toxic. Nonetheless, ingestion of the plant can lead to mild gastrointestinal irritation in dogs and cats, which might manifest as vomiting or diarrhea. As pets can have varying sensitivities, it’s prudent to keep the plant out of reach and consult a veterinarian if any significant or concerning symptoms are observed after ingestion.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Blue-green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  1 feet 4-16 inches (30-40 cm)
- Spread
  1 feet (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  3-9
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Adds visual interest to gardens with its bright white flowers and contrasting deep green foliage.
- Attracts Pollinators: Brings bees and butterflies to the garden, which are essential for pollination.
- Fragrance: Emits a pleasant spicy-sweet scent that can be enjoyed when planted near walkways or seating areas.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, tolerates periods of dryness, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Long Blooming Period: Blooms from late spring to early fall, providing a long season of color.
- Cut Flowers: Ideal for creating bouquets as they have a long vase life and maintain their color well.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal upkeep when situated in appropriate growing conditions.
- Cold Hardy: Able to survive in colder climates, making it suitable for a variety of landscapes.
- Edging Plants: Their compact size and tidy growth habit make them perfect for borders or edging paths and garden beds.
- Versatility: Suitable for growing in containers, hanging baskets, and small spaces in addition to open garden beds.
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
- As a natural dye: The petals of the Dianthus, particularly when dried, can be used to create a subtle pink natural dye for fabrics or paper.
- In potpourri and sachets: Dried Dianthus flowers can add color and a pleasant fragrance to homemade potpourri or sachets, providing a long-lasting aroma in drawers and closets.
- For culinary decoration: Edible Dianthus petals can be used to add a splash of color and a light spicy flavor to salads, desserts, and drinks.
- As a photography subject: The striking patterns of Dianthus 'Milky Way' offer photographers and artists a beautiful subject to capture in various creative projects.
- In craft projects: The flowers and foliage of the Dianthus can be used in scrapbooking, card-making, or other craft activities for botanical embellishments.
- For floral water: Distilling petals of the Dianthus to create a fragrant floral water can be a unique way to refresh linens or as a gentle face toner.
- As a pressing flower: Dianthus flowers are suitable for pressing and can be used to create artistic pressed flower arrangements due to their flattish profile and vibrant colors.
- For educational purposes: The Dianthus can be used by educators to teach botany and horticulture principles, illustrating plant growth, reproduction, and care.
- In wedding decor: Due to their romantic associations, Dianthus flowers can be incorporated into wedding decorations, from table centerpieces to boutonnieres.
- In aromatherapy: While not using oils directly from the flower, the scent of Dianthus can be mimicked or sourced for use in aromatherapy products to create a calming environment.

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: Dianthus often symbolizes love and affection due to its long association with emotions in Greek mythology, where it was linked to the god of love.
- Admiration: The flower's vibrant colors and striking patterns can represent deep admiration and fascination, making it an appropriate gift to express these feelings.
- Passion: Its fiery hues and bold appearance connect the Dianthus 'Milky Way' with passion and strong feelings.
- Purity: The 'Milky Way' variety, with its white pattern resembling the galaxy, symbolizes purity and innocence.
- Divine Love: Traditionally, the flower is also a symbol of divine love, owing to its heavenly namesake and connections to the gods in mythology.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
For the Pinks or Sweet William, it is best to maintain consistent moisture without overwatering. Water the plant deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which might be approximately once a week, depending on the climate and soil conditions. Use one to one and a half gallons of water per square yard every watering session to ensure the root zone is thoroughly moistened. During hot, dry periods, you might need to water more frequently, but always check the soil moisture first. Be careful not to let the plant sit in water as this can lead to root rot.
Light
The Pinks prefers full sun conditions where it can receive at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. The best spot for planting is an area with ample morning sunlight and some protection from the intense heat of the late afternoon sun. Well-lit spots that avoid shade will allow for the most robust growth and flower production.
Temperature
Sweet William thrives in a temperature range of 60°F to 70°F, which makes it suitable for many temperate climates. It can tolerate minimum temperatures down to 40°F and maximum temperatures up to 80°F; however, prolonged exposure to extremes outside of the ideal range might stress the plant. Ensuring good air circulation can help prevent disease, especially in humid or very warm conditions.
Pruning
To encourage more blooms and maintain a tidy appearance, pinch back and deadhead Sweet William regularly. The best time for pruning is after the first flush of flowers begins to fade; removing the spent flowers will promote a second bloom. Prune the plant down to about one-third of its height at the end of the blooming season to prepare it for winter.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Carnation 'Milky Way' should be well-draining, with a mix of loam, sand, and compost. Optimal soil pH level is slightly alkaline to neutral, around 7.0 to 7.5.
Repotting
Carnations should generally be repotted every 1-2 years to replenish the soil and provide room for growth.
Humidity & Misting
Carnations prefer moderate humidity levels; however, they can tolerate a range from low to high as long as there is good air circulation.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and ensure good airflow.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun with well-draining soil and space apart for air flow.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
The Dianthus 'Milky Way', commonly known as Pinks, begins its life as a seed, which when sown, germinates in soil temperatures of around 70°F (21°C) usually within 7-14 days. Following germination, the seedling stage involves the development of the plant's root system, and its true leaves, which will allow it to photosynthesize and grow. As it enters the vegetative stage, the plant grows stems and leaves, storing resources necessary for flowering. The Dianthus 'Milky Way' reaches the flowering stage in late spring to early summer, producing its distinctive white to pink flowers with unique patterns. After pollination, often by insects, the flowers produce seeds, which mark the plant's reproductive phase, completing its life cycle. If the conditions are not suitable for seed production or to prolong blooming, the plant can be deadheaded to encourage additional flowers before it eventually enters a period of dormancy, especially in colder climates.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Dianthus 'Milky Way', also known as the 'Milky Way' Pinks, is most commonly propagated through the division of its clumps, which is best done in early spring as new growth begins. This process involves carefully digging up the entire plant and using a sharp knife or spade to cut through the root ball, dividing it into smaller sections. Each section should have a good amount of roots and several shoots to ensure successful transplantation. After division, replant the sections promptly at the same depth they were originally growing, spacing them about 12 inches (approximately 30 centimeters) apart to allow room for growth. Water the new plants thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots and continue with regular watering until they are well established.