Carnation Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' (p)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' presents a charming display with its vibrant flowers and lush foliage. The blossoms are notable for their radiant pink color, which is appealingly striking. Each petal of this eye-catching flower exhibits a lovely, subtle fringing on the edges, enhancing its endearing texture and giving it a slightly ruffled appearance. The petals contrast beautifully with the plant’s blue-green leaves, creating a delightful blend of colors that can brighten any garden. The leaves themselves have a narrow, linear form and are typically arranged in a dense, tidy clump, contributing to the plant’s neat overall appearance. The foliage enhances the appeal of this garden favorite by providing an attractive backdrop for the showy petals that are a delight as they dance above it on slender stems. This Dianthus variety exudes a pleasant, spicy fragrance that adds another layer of enjoyment to its lovely appearance. When in full bloom, the plant transforms into a lush bouquet of delightful color and inviting scent, exuding a classic charm that is characteristic of these beloved garden plants.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae.
- Synonyms
  Oakwood Gillian Garforth Pink, Gillian Garforth Pink, Garforth Pink.
- Common names
  Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth'
Toxicity
- To humans
  The common name for Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' is Carnation. Generally, carnations are not considered to be toxic to humans. They are often used in the culinary world as decorative elements on plates or in drinks, suggesting a general safety for human consumption. However, sensitive individuals may experience mild skin irritation when handling the plant due to its natural oils and compounds. Ingesting parts of the carnation is not commonly associated with serious poisoning in humans, but if someone were to consume a large amount, they might experience stomach upset, nausea, or vomiting as a result of the unusual substance in the digestive tract.
- To pets
  Carnations, the common name for Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth', are mildly toxic to pets such as cats and dogs. If a pet ingests carnations, they may exhibit symptoms of gastrointestinal distress which could include vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling. While the toxicity is generally considered mild, sensitive pets might have a more pronounced reaction. It is recommended to keep carnations out of reach of pets to prevent any accidental ingestion. If a pet does consume part of a carnation plant and shows concerning symptoms, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
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
  6
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: The Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' is known to attract bees and butterflies, which are essential for pollination.
- Low Maintenance: This plant is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance once established in the right conditions.
- Drought Tolerant: It has good tolerance to dry conditions once established, making it suitable for gardens in drier climates or water-wise landscaping.
- Long Blooming Period: The Dianthus typically has a prolonged blooming period, offering colorful flowers throughout its season.
- Compact Growth: This variety typically remains compact, making it ideal for borders, small gardens, or containers where space is limited.
- Fragrance: The blooms of the Dianthus are often fragrant, adding a pleasant scent to the garden or when used in cut flower arrangements.
- Deer Resistant: Dianthus plants are generally not preferred by deer, which can be beneficial in areas where deer browsing is a problem for gardeners.
- Versatility: These plants can be used in various garden designs, including rock gardens, cottage gardens, or as edging plants.
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
- Natural Fabric Dyes: The petals of the Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' can be used to create natural dyes for coloring textiles with hues varying from light pink to deep red, depending on the concentration.
- Artistic Inspiration: Artists can use the striking appearance of the Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' as a subject in paintings, drawings, and photography, capturing its vivid color and intricate petal patterns.
- Culinary Garnish: The edible flowers can be used to add a splash of color and a subtle spicy flavor to salads, desserts, and cocktails.
- Pressed Flower Crafts: The Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' flowers can be pressed and used in various crafts such as making bookmarks, cards, or framed botanical art.
- Essential Oil Production: While not widely practiced, the flowers can potentially be distilled to extract essential oils used in homemade perfumes or aromatherapy products.
- Bath and Body Products: Petals can be incorporated into homemade soaps, bath bombs, or salts, offering a natural touch and mild fragrance.
- Floral Water: By steeping the petals in water, one can create a lightly fragranced floral water for use in homemade room sprays or linen refreshers.
- Decorative Mulch: Dried Dianthus petals can be sprinkled around potted plants as a decorative mulch that adds both color and a subtle fragrance to indoor plant displays.
- Natural Insect Repellent: While not as effective as commercial repellents, placing pots of Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' around outdoor seating areas can help deter certain insects due to its fragrance.
- Educational Tool: This variety can be used in educational settings such as schools or botanical workshops to teach about plant biology, hybridization, and floral design.

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 is often associated with love and affection, possibly due to their heart-shaped petals and traditionally use in bridal bouquets.
- Admiration: The vibrant and enduring nature of the flowers can symbolize deep admiration and respect for someone.
- Boldness: With its bright colors and striking appearance, Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' can represent boldness and daring.
- Divinity: In historical contexts, dianthus were often dedicated to the gods, symbolizing the divine.
- Purity: The clear, distinct colors of the dianthus can symbolize purity and innocence.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Carnations prefer even moisture and should be watered when the top inch of soil begins to dry out. Typically, this amounts to watering once a week, but this can vary depending on climate and weather conditions. It is best to use a watering can or hose to water at the base of the plant, avoiding wetting the foliage to prevent diseases. The amount of water needed may range from half to one gallon every week, ensuring that the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
Light
Carnations thrive best in full sunlight where they can receive at least six hours of sunlight a day. They should be planted in a spot that has clear, unfiltered light for the majority of the day to promote healthy growth and vibrant blooms.
Temperature
Carnations, including Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth', flourish in temperate conditions and can tolerate a temperature range from 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive occasional dips below this range, but extended exposure to temperatures under 40 degrees can be harmful. Ideally, they should be grown in a location where the temperature remains within this range for optimal growth.
Pruning
Carnations should be pruned to remove spent blooms and encourage further flowering. This deadheading can be done throughout the blooming season as flowers fade. Additionally, light pruning in the spring to remove any dead or damaged stems from the winter can promote healthy new growth. The best time for pruning is after the plant has finished its main flush of blooms.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Carnation 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' thrives best in well-draining, loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. A suitable soil mix can be created using equal parts of garden soil, compost, and sharp sand or perlite to ensure proper drainage and fertility.
Repotting
Carnations like 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' do not require frequent repotting and can be repotted every 2-3 years, or when the plant outgrows its container, to refresh the soil and provide space for root growth.
Humidity & Misting
Carnation 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth' prefers moderate humidity levels but can tolerate low humidity. It is important to maintain natural airflow around the plant to prevent diseases commonly associated with high humidity.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure full sun, well-draining soil, and moderate watering.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, provide well-drained soil, and water regularly.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
The Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth', commonly known as Pink, begins its life cycle when seeds are sown and germinate which can occur either in late winter indoors or early spring outdoors. The seedlings emerge and grow into small, densely tufted plants, during which stage they develop their root systems and foliage. As the plant matures, it forms a mound of slender, blue-green leaves, from which sturdy stems arise, leading to the blooming stage where fragrant, pink to lavender flowers with fringed petal edges appear, typically in late spring to early summer. Following pollination, which is often aided by bees and butterflies, the flowers develop into seed capsules if deadheading (removal of spent flowers) is not performed, thus completing the reproductive cycle. In the absence of seed formation, the plant may rebloom in late summer or early fall. Throughout the plant's life, regular pruning and division every few years can help maintain vigor and encourage continuous growth cycles, with the plant persisting as a perennial in suitable climates.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: Dianthus 'Oakwood Gillian Garforth', commonly known as a variety of Pink, is commonly propagated through the method of cuttings, particularly during the late spring to summer months when the plant is actively growing. The process involves selecting a healthy, non-flowering stem and cutting a length of about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) with a sharp, clean implement. This cutting should then be stripped of its lower leaves, leaving a few at the top, and treated with a rooting hormone for best results. Afterward, the cutting is placed into a well-draining soil mixture, ensuring that the node where the leaves were removed is buried as this is where roots will develop. The environment should be kept moist but not soggy and placed in indirect light until the cutting has rooted, which generally takes a few weeks. Once new growth appears, indicating a successful propagation, it can be transplanted to a permanent location.