What Are the Life Cycles of a Carnation?

Early Stages

• Tiny, black Dianthus seeds fall to earth in mid- to late summer and, at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, germinate in two to three weeks. A carnation's cotyledon, or first set of leaves, gives way to two or three sets of true leaves about one month after germination. The plant continues to grow through fall, developing narrow, green or blue-green foliage. Like most perennial plants, a carnation becomes dormant during winter.

Bloom Phase

• The carnation plant resumes growth after the ground warms in spring. Depending on its variety and type, a garden carnation can grow up to 3 1/2 feet tall, with its flower buds developing atop its tall, jointed stems. The tight, oval-shaped buds develop in late spring or early summer and open to reveal flowers that can be up to 4 inches across. When the flowers open, pollination takes place, usually by butterflies and other insects. After pollination, a carnation flower's petals eventually fall away and the ovary swells, becoming a capsule bearing flattened seeds, which are dispersed when the capsule ripens and splits.

Growing Conditions

• Good culture facilitates the carnation’s life cycle. Carnation seeds can be started indoors under controlled conditions and moved outdoors after the seedlings' first few sets of true leaves have developed. A carnation grows best in a protected location with excellent drainage. Heavy clay soil should be amended generously with organic material and grit, sand or other drainage-promoting material. Full sun optimizes flowering. A carnation's flower colors and scent attract pollinators, but interplanting carnation with other pollinator-friendly species provides further encouragement.

Propagation Considerations

• Most modern carnations are hybrids. Although their life cycle is identical to the non-hybrid carnations' life cycle, open-pollinated hybrid varieties often produce small amounts of seeds or produce seeds that are seldom viable. When hybrid carnation seeds are viable, they are unlikely to produce offspring that are identical to the parents. That characteristic can be desirable because it allows for selection of offspring with traits such as unusual vigor and color patterns. If you want to produce identical plants, then propagate desired carnation varieties by taking cuttings from their 2- or 3-year-old plants.