Plant Details

Dianthus caryophyllus

Carnation, Clove Pink, Border Carnation

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Common names

27 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (20)
Dutch
  • Anjer
  • tuinanjer[2]
French
  • Oeillet
  • Œillet commun[2]
  • Œillet des fleuristes[2]
Afrikaans
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Pitomi klinčić[2]
Czech
  • hvozdík zahradní[2]
Finnish
  • tarhaneilikka[2]
German
Hebrew
  • ציפורן תרבותי[2]
Japanese
  • オランダセキチク[2]
Korean
  • 카네이션[2]
Norwegian
  • hagenellik[2]
Polish
  • goździk ogrodowy[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Гвоздика садовая[2]
Slovak
  • klinček záhradný[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • trädgårdsnejlika[2]
Turkish
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Dianthus caryophyllus L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Carnation — VernacularName.tsv, line 149451; taxon 6CPZ5.
  • Clove Pink (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 149452; taxon 6CPZ5.
  • Garten-Nelke (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 149453; taxon 6CPZ5.
[2] Dianthus caryophyllus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • clove pink — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Clavel — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Carnation — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Cravo — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • hvozdík zahradní — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Œillet des fleuristes — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Œillet commun — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Tuinanjer — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • hagenellik — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • tarhaneilikka — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • 香石竹 — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • オランダセキチク — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • trädgårdsnejlika — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Гвоздика садовая — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Angelier — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • 카네이션 — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • 香石竹 — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • ציפורן תרבותי — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • 康乃馨 — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • goździk ogrodowy — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Pitomi klinčić — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Karanfil — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • klinček záhradný — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.
  • Garten-Nelke — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 83063; Dianthus caryophyllus.

General information

Scientific name: Dianthus caryophyllus
Accepted name (Kew): Dianthus caryophyllus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Caryophyllaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Dianthus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Carnation, Clove Pink, Border Carnation
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–1.22 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.15–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Annual, Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Fragrant

Description

The petals of this plant emit an intense clove aroma. They are often candied and used to garnish salads, flavor fruit and fruit salads, and even as a substitute for rose petals when making syrup. Remove the petals from the calyx and make sure to discard the bitter white base before use.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 773143; name ID 2763744; Dianthus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1372313; name ID 2764005; Dianthus caryophyllus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Dianthus caryophyllus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2067211, ID 6CPZ5: Dianthus caryophyllus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Dianthus caryophyllus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .