Once dismissed as fusty, old-fashioned bedding plants, carnations are experiencing a well-deserved resurgence in gardens. The Caryophyllaceae family, which includes carnations and sweet williams, is being rediscovered by gardeners who appreciate their ease of growth, hardiness, and charm.
Personal Discovery of Carnations
The author admits to having dismissed the entire family as outdated, but a series of encounters changed that view. Rose campion, another Caryophyllaceae, appeared uninvited in the garden and thrived, showing resilience even in a scorched wasteland that later became a haven for moths, grasshoppers, and bees. As a biennial, it took two seasons to flower, but its bright pink blooms and soft grey leaves proved unexpectedly enjoyable.
Sweet Williams at Murray Edwards College
A visit to Murray Edwards College in Cambridge solidified the conversion. The college's cutting bed, harvested by the gardening team for students to enjoy in their rooms, featured sweet williams mingling with poppies, cosmos, cornflowers, sweetpeas, and nasturtiums. According to head gardener Caitlin Sparksman, the sweet williams were boiled-sweet coloured and bushy, charming in vases and lasting well when cut, yet surprisingly contemporary when combined with other flowers.
Growing Sweet Williams
Sweet williams are biennials, so sowing now ensures flowers next summer. They are considered so easy to grow that they are often recommended for children. Hardy and direct-sowable into the ground, they require weeding and watering before sowing, and the soil must be kept moist until they establish. Foliage appears in the first year, followed by flowers the next.
The author has ordered Dianthus barbatus 'Barbienne Salmon', 'Sooty', and 'Chiltern Seeds Pastel Mix' to scatter into gaps in the wildflower patch. With their low maintenance and vibrant colours, carnations are proving that they deserve a permanent place in gardens, not just on garage forecourts.
