Carnation Dianthus 'White Joy' (PBR) (p)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Dianthus 'White Joy' is a charming perennial plant known for its attractive and fragrant flowers. The plant features slender, green, grass-like foliage that forms a dense and tidy clump. The leaves provide a neat backdrop for the star attraction: the blooms. The flowers themselves are a pristine white color, with a classic dianthus shape—each petal typically has a slightly fringed or serrated edge, giving them a lacy, delicate appearance. The blossoms are known for their spicy-clove fragrance, which can be quite pronounced and add an olfactory delight to any garden setting. The flowers are usually borne in small clusters atop slender, sturdy stems that rise above the foliage, giving them a floating appearance. Given that 'White Joy' is a type of dianthus, the flowering period generally extends from late spring into early summer, and with proper deadheading, it may rebloom into the fall. This variety, due to its neutral white hue, is particularly versatile in garden design, offering a contrast to more vivid colors or serving to brighten shaded areas. Its subtle beauty is often utilized in borders, rock gardens, or as an edging plant, and it is equally effective when planted en masse. Additionally, 'White Joy' dianthus is a popular choice for cut flower arrangements, where the blooms' longevity and sweet scent are highly valued.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae
- Synonyms
  White Joy Carnation, White Joy, White Joy Pinks
- Common names
  Dianthus 'White Joy' (PBR) (p).
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Dianthus 'White Joy'—commonly known as Carnation—is generally not considered poisonous to humans. In most cases, accidental ingestion of carnation parts is unlikely to cause serious harm. However, it's always advisable to exercise caution and prevent ingestion, particularly in children, to avoid any potential for mild gastrointestinal upset or skin irritation, which can occur with sensitive individuals.
- To pets
  Carnation, the common name for Dianthus 'White Joy', is typically considered non-toxic to pets. It should not cause serious harm if accidentally ingested by cats or dogs. However, similar to humans, some pets might experience mild gastrointestinal upset, so it's still a good practice to prevent your pets from eating plants.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Blue-green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Spread
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  6
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts pollinators: Dianthus 'White Joy' is known to attract bees and butterflies, which are beneficial for pollination in the garden.
- Easy to grow: It is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for, making it suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Long blooming period: The White Joy variety often has a prolonged flowering period, offering a long-lasting display of flowers throughout the growing season.
- Drought tolerant: Once established, Dianthus 'White Joy' can tolerate periods of drought, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Compact size: With its compact growth habit, this plant is ideal for small gardens, containers, and borders without taking up too much space.
- Fragrant flowers: The flowers of Dianthus 'White Joy' are known for their sweet fragrance, which can add a pleasant scent to a garden or patio area.
- Evergreen foliage: This variety typically has evergreen foliage, providing year-round interest even when the plant is not in bloom.
- Versatile uses: Suitable for rockeries, edging, and garden beds, Dianthus 'White Joy' offers versatility in landscaping and design.
- Cut flowers: The blooms of White Joy make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements due to their beauty and fragrance.
- Resistant to deer: This plant is often resistant to deer, making it a good choice for gardens in areas with a deer presence.
- Cold hardy: Dianthus 'White Joy' is known to be cold hardy, capable of withstanding cooler temperatures and frost.
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
- Carnation 'White Joy' petals can be used to create natural dyes for fabric or paper, giving a soft, subtle hue that is perfect for artisan crafts.
- The crushed leaves of Carnation 'White Joy' can be infused in water to create a scented rinse for linens, imparting a fresh, gentle fragrance.
- Dried Carnation 'White Joy' flowers can be incorporated into homemade potpourri blends, adding visual appeal and a light perfume to a room.
- Carnation 'White Joy' can be placed in sachets to tuck into drawers and closets, serving as a natural moth repellent due to its fragrance.
- Pressed Carnation 'White Joy' flowers can be used in botanical art and craft projects, such as greeting cards or bookmarks, for an elegant touch.
- When frozen in ice cubes, Carnation 'White Joy' petals can add an ornamental flourish to festive drinks and cocktails at special events.
- The plant can be grown as part of a sensory garden, providing visual stimulation with its bright white blossoms and a textured experience due to its foliage.
- Carnation 'White Joy' can serve as a teaching tool in gardening workshops or schools, illustrating plant growth, pollination, and horticultural practices.
- Carnation 'White Joy' can be used for flower arranging competitions and exhibitions, showcasing the grower's expertise and the beauty of the bloom.
- The scent of Carnation 'White Joy' can be captured in candle making, providing a delightful aroma when the candles are lit and creating a soothing atmosphere.

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
- Divine Love: Being a variation of carnations, the Dianthus 'White Joy' is often associated with the love of the divine, as it's believed that the first carnation bloomed on Earth from the tears of Virgin Mary, symbolizing a mother's undying love.
- Purity: The white color of the 'White Joy' Dianthus expresses purity and innocence, making it a popular choice in wedding bouquets and ceremonial decorations.
- Admiration: Dianthus flowers, in general, are connected with admiration. Giving someone these flowers is a way of saying you hold high esteem for them.
- Fascination: The clove-like scent and unique texture of the Dianthus 'White Joy' petals are linked with fascination and the ability to captivate or charm individuals.
- Distinction: Often planted to stand out in flower beds, the Dianthus 'White Joy' represents striving for distinction or being distinguished in some aspect of life.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Carnations require consistent moisture but dislike being waterlogged. Water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil feels dry, typically once a week, depending on weather conditions. Use approximately one gallon of water per plant each time you water, ensuring it's applied directly to the soil to avoid wetting the foliage. During hot, dry spells, watering frequency may increase to twice a week to maintain adequate moisture levels. Always check the soil moisture before watering to prevent overwatering.
Light
Carnations flourish in full sunlight, so it’s best to place them in a spot where they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Avoid locations that are shaded for most of the day, as this can lead to poor blooming and weak growth. If the plant is indoors, a south-facing window is typically an ideal location.
Temperature
Carnations prefer cooler conditions and will thrive in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate temperatures down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit but should be protected from frosts and freezes. During the hot summer months, carnations can manage higher temperatures but may need additional watering to cope with heat stress.
Pruning
Prune carnations to promote bushier growth and more blooms, typically by pinching back the growing tips when plants are young. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season. Perform any significant pruning in early spring to shape the plant and remove any dead or damaged stems. Pruning is best done before the new growth starts, ensuring the plant can recover quickly and produce fresh shoots.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for the Carnation 'White Joy' should be well-draining, with a moderate amount of organic matter, such as compost or peat, incorporated into a loamy or sandy base. The pH should be slightly alkaline, ranging from 7.0 to 7.5. Regular watering is important, but overwatering must be avoided to prevent root rot.
Repotting
Carnations like 'White Joy' typically require repotting every 1-2 years to refresh the soil and provide room for growth. It is best to repot in spring or early summer before the plant enters its active growing phase.
Humidity & Misting
Carnations, including 'White Joy,' prefer moderate humidity levels and do well in typical household conditions. While they can tolerate some dry air, extremely low humidity should be avoided. Do not mist the foliage, as this can promote fungal diseases.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright light, well-drained soil, and cool temperatures for 'White Joy' Carnations indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil, and provide space for air circulation for 'White Joy' Carnations.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
'White Joy' pinks, a cultivar of the Dianthus species, begin their life cycle as seeds, which, when sown, will germinate under suitable conditions—usually in early spring or after the threat of frost has passed. Upon germination, seedlings emerge and develop a basic root system and a rosette of leaves. As the plant matures, stems elongate and foliage becomes denser, forming a compact, mounded shape characteristic of pinks. Flower buds develop at the tips of the stems and bloom into the distinctive white, fragrant flowers usually during late spring to summer. After blooming, if flowers are deadheaded, 'White Joy' may rebloom, extending its flowering season. As a perennial plant, it will enter dormancy in the fall and winter months, storing energy in its roots for the next growing season; with proper care, it can survive for several years, regrowing each spring.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The Dianthus 'White Joy', also known as Carnation, is popular for its ease of propagation through cuttings, particularly during late spring to early summer when the plant's growth is most vigorous. For this method, a gardener would select a healthy, non-flowering shoot and cut a segment around 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) long. It's important to make the cut just below a node, as this is where root growth is encouraged. The lower leaves are then stripped away, and the cutting may be dipped in rooting hormone to enhance root development. The prepared cutting is then inserted into a well-draining soil mix, ensuring that at least two nodes are buried where roots can form. Keeping the soil consistently moist and providing a warm environment with indirect light will promote rooting, usually within a couple of weeks. Once the cuttings have established a strong root system, they can be transplanted into individual pots or a designated garden area.