What color became the name of a flower?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
May 24, 2002
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John Gerard's (The Herbal, 1633 ed.) Clove Gillofloures and wilde Gillofloures refer to the plants we now call carnations and pinks (Dianthus caryophyllus and other species). But in 1597, when Gerard's Herbal was first printed, the origin of clove gilloflowers was a mystery.
(See Herbal Folklore, May 20, 2002)
Present day writings often state both Pliny the Elder (Roman natural historian) and Theophrastus (Greek philosopher and father of botany) wrote of Dianthus. Dianthus was said named by Theophrastus from Dios, meaning gods, Jove, or heavenly, and anthus, meaning flower. No search of their writings has yielded a flower by that name. The name, though, was used by Linnaeus when he designated the genus.
Gilloflower is thought to come from the Middle English gilofre, Middle French girofle, and the Italian garofoli. All refer to cloves, the scent of cloves, or a flower smelling of cloves.
Gerard did use the name carnation referring to the many petaled "Caryophyllus maximus multiplex", which were pale in color (the parent of the modern day florists' carnation). According to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate (1990), carnation means "the variable color of human flesh" or skin tones. The color carnation came to mean the flower.
Oddly, the wild gilloflowers were often called "pinkes" in Gerard's time, but the term pink did not mean a color until the early 1700s. The name of the flowers became the name of the color.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia has photographs and information on Dianthus. To view the photographs and learn more, click on the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianthus
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Dianthus Collection
Springhill Nursery®
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An easy way to add to the appeal of your garden!
Carnations, or Dianthus, have been garden favorites throughout history, and they are just as appealing to modern gardeners as they were to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Perhaps even more so, for modern hybridizers have given us delightful new colors and bloom forms the ancients could never have imagined.
All are easy-care perennials that require only minimal tending. They grow best in full sun, with each plant reaching a height of 15-20" and a width of 12-18". They'll all bloom together from late spring through early fall, treating you to an uplifting display of crisp, cheerful flowers. And by clipping a few for bouquets, you'll encourage them to produce even more lovely blossoms.
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With this collection, you'll receive three each of the following varieties:
- Red Rocket: Scarlet blooms of amazing intensity set the garden afire from late spring through early fall. An especially profuse bloomer that gives you plenty of cut flowers for bouquets. Deliciously fragrant!
- Starlight: The queen of the white carnations - elegantly frilled, fully double blooms have a rich, spicy fragrance. Hybridized in Europe, and unsurpassed by any other for clean, satiny white color.
- Diana: Vivid salmon blooms on 15-20" stems offer country cottage charm for months from late spring into early fall. Prized in the garden as well as in long-lasting, delicately scented bouquets.
- Laced Romeo: One of the most striking of all carnations. Picotee blooms are a deep burgundy-red and edged with a lacy white trim. Wonderfully free blooming and fragrant!
- Joy: Sweet pink blooms that make captivating bouquets. Bloom color is especially appealing showcased against distinctive blue-green foliage. Petals are charmingly ruffled and layered.
- Gina: 3 FREE plants with every collection ordered! A truly unique carnation, available exclusively from Spring Hill! Gina blooms in shades of soft lemon-yellow unmatched in any other carnation. The blooms are long-lasting and especially appealing in bouquets, with their unique color and delicious fragrance. Enjoy this rare beauty in your garden as our free gift to you.
Dianthus Collection Ships In Both Spring And Fall
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