On sweltering summer days, in meadows where the grass has yet to be cut, you can spot the delicate pinkish-red flowers of the field carnation, adorned with dark stripes and white speckles. These flowers bloom individually on slender, upright stems. If you try to pick one, others seem to follow suit. It turns out that each plant has several branches, each topped with a flower. All the branches sprout from a stem so thin that, weighed down by the blossoms, it sprawls across the ground like grass. This is why it’s called the field carnation. In folk tradition, the plant is often referred to as “maiden beauty,” “little bells,” “spark,” or “teardrops” due to its beauty and grace.
The gentle fragrance of the field carnation’s flowers is reminiscent of the spice derived from the dried buds of the tropical clove tree. The field carnation is valued as a nutritious forage plant, and in folk medicine and veterinary practices, infusions and decoctions made from its stems and leaves are used as a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic remedy.
This plant is also one of the most common ornamental species. Numerous varieties of the field carnation have been developed, featuring flowers in white, pink, or red with a pale “eye” at the center. Of course, among the carnations used in floriculture, there are far more beautiful options. However, they all belong to the same genus—Dianthus, a name derived from the Greek words “dios” meaning divine and “anthos” meaning flower, thus translating to “divine flower.” According to one Greek myth, the beautiful huntress goddess Diana once grew angry with a shepherd boy for scaring away the game with his flute playing. In her rage, Diana plucked out the boy’s eyes, but once she realized the harm she had done, she dropped his eyes to the ground, where they sprouted into beautiful flowers.
The genus Dianthus comprises nearly 250 species, with the highest concentration found in the Mediterranean region, Eurasia, and a few in North America. In our country alone, there are about 100 species, with the field carnation being one of the most widespread. It can be found in the European part of Russia, Siberia, and the Far East. Besides meadows, it grows along forest edges, in clearings, by roadsides, and in pastures.
Among the wild species, some are quite rare. For instance, the Dniester carnation is found on granite cliffs and gneiss outcrops along the Southern Bug, Ingul, and Ingulets rivers in Ukraine. This plant has a low but sturdy, branching stem that emerges from the base. Its branches are lined with narrow, stiff leaves and culminate in solitary red flowers. There are so many blooms that a single plant resembles a lush bouquet. This carnation continuously flowers throughout June and July.
Another rare species is the Acantholimon carnation, which only grows in the Krasnodar region from Novorossiysk to Tuapse, on outcrops of marl, in the lower mountain belt, where it forms fairly dense and large cushions (up to 31 inches in diameter). Both of these rare species are listed in the Red Book of the USSR. The primary threat to their existence is bouquet collectors.
For the same reason, the magnificent fluffy carnation—an exquisite ornamental plant of our meadows, forests, and mountain ranges from the western to the eastern borders of the country—has nearly vanished. The fluffy carnation features solitary, relatively large flowers with fringed petals in shades of lilac-pink, pale lilac, or white, exuding a delicate fragrance, all perched on long flower stalks. It blooms from June to August. Unfortunately, in many regions, it has become rare and is now listed among the plants needing special protection. The fluffy carnation is cultivated as an ornamental, forage, and honey-producing plant. It has wide applications in folk medicine, where both its above-ground and underground parts are utilized.
All carnations are easily propagated by seeds. They prefer light sandy soils and sunny habitats.