Killer Savings Offer:

What was the nail of the gillyflower?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

March 14, 2003

Sponsored By: Springhill Nursery—>Click here.

Gurney's Seed and Nursery—>Click here.

NOVICA—>Exotic and Handmade Home Decor.

Send a special someone flowers today!—>Click here.

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Clove basket, Hardy Carnation Collection, Sweetness Dianthus & more—>Click here.

Book XII of Pliny the Elder's Natural History was dedicated to the exotic plants and spices of India, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. One of the spices mentioned was caryophyllon, literally, the "nut-leaf". After the fall of the Roman Empire, spice trade to Europe ceased. Six hundred years would pass until spices returned to Europe. From the 11th to 13th centuries, the Crusades went to liberate the Holy Land from Islamic control. Returning Crusaders told stories of the spices known in the Levant (eastern shore of the Mediterranean); Europeans wanted spices.

advertisement

Eugenia Aromatica, Cloves Photographic Print Kidd Geoff Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

Old texts like Pliny's had been a matter of curiosity to European scholars for centuries. In the 1500s, Carolus Clusius applied the name found in Pliny's text to the clove; John Gerard (1597) published the name as Caryophylli veri Clusij or the true Clove tree (as determined by) Clusius.

The clove tree has received numerous botanical designations since the advent of binomial nomenclature—Myrtus caryophyllatus, Caryophyllus aromaticus, Eugenia caryophyllata, Eugenia aromatica, and finally, Syzygium aromaticum. Clove trees are no longer name-linked to Pliny's caryophyllon.

Outside of any botanical designations, the spice had its common name. According to the 1889 Century Unabridged Dictionary, in England from the 12th to the 15th centuries, the spice was called clowes, claves, or clowe gilofre. The name derived from the Old French, clou de girofle. Similar names were used in Italian, chiodo di garofano, and Spanish, clavo girofiado. The spice was literally called "the nail of the gillyflower".

The gillyflower was well-known to Europeans especially for its scent. In the Middle Ages, the nail or spike-shaped cloves smelled like gillyflowers or pinks. The world view changed with the advent of the 'scientific age'. The gillyflower became the clove pink or Dianthus caryophyllus, the "flower of Jove that smells like cloves". (See What's in a Name, May 24, 2002)

The Kemper Center for Home Gardening, Missouri Botanical Garden has a great page on growing pinks similar to the gillyflowers of the Middle Ages. To learn how to grow these little beauties, click on the link:

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=Y610

The Floral Design Institute has an excellent page on carnations, the modern descendents of the gillyflower. To read about floral designs using carnations, click on the link:

http://www.floraldesigninstitute.com/page004.06.042.00.htm

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading:

How did the Dutch control the Spice Islands? Plants that Changed History - January 13, 2004
How did Portugal lose control of the spice trade? Plants that Changed History - January 6, 2004
How are cloves used in dentistry? Plants that Changed History - March 11, 2003
What color became the name of a flower? What's in a Name? - May 24, 2002
What were the medicinal uses of carnations? Herbal Folklore - May 20, 2002

Killer Savings Links:

Breck's Bulbs -$25 off—>Click here.

Gurney's Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.

Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.

Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.

Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you.  Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Hardy Carnation Color Collection

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Just Like the Florist Sells – A wonderfully fragrant and long-lasting choice for cutting! Big, fully double flowers are made for bouquets. The frilly blossoms fill the air with a sweetly spicy scent from May through June, perched atop sturdy foot-high stems. Very adaptable and easy to grow, best, planted in full to partial sun.

With this collection, you'll receive three each of these five varieties: Red, Pink, Salmon, White, and Yellow. Potted plants. Zone 3 to 8 Click here to get $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Gardens...]

		Clove basket, 'Fairy Tale' NOVICA® A fragrant addition to any home décor, this delightful basket with a graceful arching handle has been created by the skillful hands of Made Budiardana. The delicate trellis along the sides enhances the charming simplicity of this splendid accessory for any room of the house. Delight your friends and family with a stunning centerpiece of dried flowers arranged creatively in this aromatic piece.  Click here for price and more info... Click here for more Woven Clove Art. Exotic and Handmade Home Decor Items from Around the World
Hardy Carnation Collection Springhill Nursery®
		For a garden bursting with color through an extra-long blooming season, plant the entire Hardy Carnation Collection of all five varieties. Three of each: Red Rocket...scarlet Ballerina...white Joy...pink Diana...salmon Laced Romeo...red and white Multiply annually for increased beauty year after year. All are extremely hardy and grow 15-20" tall, spreading 12-18". Shipped in 3" pots. Deer tend to avoid. Dianthus Zone 3 to 9
The Hardy Carnation Collection includes three each of the following varieties: Red Rocket Hardy Carnation (scarlet) (3), Cheerful scarlet red carnations spice up borders, beds and rock gardens.. Ballerina Hardy Carnation (3), Sparkling white flowers bloom prolifically, even in their first season.. Joy Hardy Carnation (pink) (3), Color, Charm and Fragrance for the Entire Summer! Foliage is handsome all season long.. Diana Hardy Carnation (3), Long-lasting salmon blooms give your garden a country cottage look. Foliage is handsome all season.. Laced Romeo Hardy Carnation (3), Deep red flowers fringed with creamy white--spectacular! Foliage is handsome all season.. One collection includes 15 plants!  Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! Click here to view All Dianthus.  Click here to view All Perennials.
		Hardy Carnation Collection Springhill Nursery® You cannot afford to pass over our Hardy Carnation Collection Special Offer! 18 plants for only $19.99! You will receive 3 each of these 5 fragrant varieties: Red Rocket, Starlight, Diana, Laced Romeo and Joy, as well as 3 free Gina Carnations.  Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! Click here to view All Dianthus. Click here to view All Perennials.
		Sweet William Collection Springhill Nursery® This collection includes 3 each of two gorgeous varieties of Sweet William! Noverna Purple Sweet William: Blooms earlier than other dianthus - starting late spring - and continues through fall, bearing large clusters of light purple blooms. Crimson and White Sweet William: Charming, old-fashioned garden favorite. Full, 3-4" flower heads of crimson red appear to be edged with white lace.
These Sweet William varieties flower late spring to fall on 12-15" plants. Zone 7 to 9  Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! Click here to view All Dianthus.  Click here to view All Perennials.
killerplants Recommended Seed and Nursery Stores
BACK TO TOP