Commercial Floriculture

Origin and History

Etymology:
• Some scholars believe that the name "Carnation" comes from "Coronation" or "Corone" (flower garlands), as it was one of the flowers used in Greek ceremonial crowns.
• Others say in Latin ‘Carnation’, from ‘Caro’ (genetive "Carnis") (flesh), which refers to the original colour of the flower, or incarnation, which refers to the ‘incarnation of God made flesh’.

Origin:
• Native of the Eurasia
• It is native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2000 years.
• Dianthus in Greek ‘dios,’ divine; ‘anthos’, flower which means 'Flower of Zeus' or Divine flower.
• The cultivar ‘William Sim’ produced in 1938 by William Sim of USA.
• From the red flowering ‘William Sim’ there have been mutations to all the possible colours and several variegated forms.

Botany:
• It is an herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall.
• The leaves are glaucous grayish green to blue-green, slender, up to 15 cm long.
• The Flowers are produced singly or up to five together in a cyme;
• 3–5 cm diameter and sweetly scented;
• colour is bright pinkish-purple, red, white, yellow and green.
• Carnations will grow from 2" to 3 feet high, most garden varieties grow 10 to 20 inches tall.
• They bloom mainly during cool times of the year, especially early winter.

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