Carnations are classic cottage garden flowers treasured for their ruffled, fragrant blooms in shades of white, pink, red and purple. But did you know there are also trees that produce flowers resembling colorful carnations? Let’s unravel the mysteries of these trees that bear blooms with an unexpected resemblance to carnations.
Getting to Know Carnations
First, a quick primer on carnations to understand their distinctive features Carnations belong to the genus Dianthus in the Caryophyllaceae family There are over 300 species, including
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Carnations – Large, double flowers prized for cut bouquets.
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Pinks – Frilly, single or semi-double blooms in clusters.
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Sweet Williams – Dense flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers.
Carnations are herbaceous perennials or short-lived perennials with gray-green grassy leaves. The ruffled flowers bloom in spring and summer, with a spicy, clove-like scent.
Trees Mimicking Carnations
Now, onto the trees with blooms that resemble carnations. These trees produce flowers with the same frilly, layered petals as carnations, but on trees instead of low-growing perennials.
Peony Trees
One of the most common trees with carnation-like blooms is the peony tree. There are two main types:
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Tree peonies – Small woody shrubs reaching 4-5 feet tall. Large flowers in white, pink, red or yellow.
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Chinese tree peonies – Small trees growing to 15 feet tall. Massive blooms up to 10 inches wide.
The big, lush flowers have multiple layers of tissue-paper petals that closely resemble carnations. Tree peonies bloom in late spring to early summer.
Southern Magnolia Trees
Southern magnolias also produce flowers with a strong resemblance to carnations. The large, creamy white blooms emerge as the leaves unfold in spring and early summer. The petals are thick and waxy with a lemony fragrance.
Southern magnolias are large trees, growing 60-80 feet tall. The magnolia flowers can reach dinner plate size, up to 12 inches across!
Crape Myrtle Trees
Many crape myrtle cultivars produce flowers that look nearly identical to carnations. The ruffled, crepe-like blooms come in shades of white, pink, red and purple.
Crape myrtles are small trees, growing 15-25 feet tall. The summer-blooming flowers appear in panicles at the branch tips, creating a cloud of colorful flowers.
Catalpa Trees
Catalpa trees surprise with their carnation-shaped flowers in late spring. The showy white blooms have purple spots and streaks inside.
Catalpas are fast-growing trees reaching 30-40 feet tall. Their large leaves give them a tropical look. After the flowers fade, long seed pods develop.
Caring for Trees with Carnation Blooms
These trees with carnation-style flowers have similar care needs:
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Plant in full sun for the heaviest flower production.
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Provide moderately moist, well-draining soil.
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Prune to shape in late winter before spring growth begins.
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Watch for aphids, scale, and caterpillars on new growth.
Enjoying the Flowers
Part of the magic of these trees is their unexpected carnation-shaped blooms. The ruffled flowers seem otherworldly emerging from trees rather than a flower bed!
Add one of these small flowering trees to your landscape to enjoy gorgeous carnation-like blooms every spring and summer. You’ll delight in the way these flowers capture the beauty of carnations on regal, towering trees.
Dianthus grataniapolitensis (Cheddar Pinks)
Commonly known as cheddar pinks, these types of carnations are low-growing (5-6” in height) evergreen perennials. The fragrant pink flowers appear in spring. This plant comes from central and western Europe. It does best in full sun but not in cold or wet soil. Their dense, deer-resistant growth makes them ideal for ground cover, borders, and rock gardens.
Dianthus plumarius (Common Pinks)
Dianthus plumarius types, which are often just called “pinks,” common pinks, garden pinks, or wild pinks, do best in full sun and can grow to be two feet tall when they’re fully grown. Their growth form is dense and mounding, and their flowers have fringed petals that make them look like carnations. They bloom from May to August.
