January's Birth Flower – Carnation

One of January’s birth flowers is the carnation. Like the rose, the color of the flower is used to represent certain meanings and feeling.

Give that someone special a red carnation that means I love you. Pink reflects affection while white stands for pure love. If things are going badly you may choose a striped carnation that represents a love that is not shared or yellow for disappointment or rejection.

Or just select the recipient’s favorite color. Carnations are long lasting cut flowers that look great combined with greens or other flowers in a mixed bouquet.

In the garden you can also grow annual, biennial and perennial carnations, also known as dianthus. Though specifics may vary a bit, most carnations prefer full sun and cool temperatures. Use as cool season annuals. Or select heat tolerant varieties and provide a bit of afternoon shade to get these beauties through warm seasons.

A bit more information: Try some of the new carnations for a little extra garden and cut flower appeal. Green Trick carnation has pompom shaped vivid green flowers the size of tennis balls. Listen to my audio tip for more on this stunning cut flower. Sweet black cherry (Dianthus barbatus ‘Sweet Black Cherry’) is a dramatic garden annual. The flowers are almost black and these frost and heat tolerant plants grow 18-24” tall x 10-12” wide.