11/04/2025
Nick's Newsies Flora & Fauna 11/04/2025
Welcome to the forty-fourth post in a weekly series entitled "Nick's Newsies Flora & Fauna!" This is a dive into the various plants and animals the Nick's Newsies have, and each Tuesday we'll feature a different Nick's Newsie family member. If you want to try your hand at pet ownership or work that green thumb, check out these posts for ideas and care instructions!
Producer Donna has a thing for healthy gardens and flowering plants. You couldn't tell checking out these Flora & Fauna posts though. This absolute beauty of an entry is Producer Donna's Dianthus, and what a plant it is. This sunshine-loving shrub is definitely sure to turn some heads. Hey, did you know the name "Dianthus" comes from two Greek words? "Dios," referring to the Greek god Zeus, and "anthos," meaning flower. This is literally the "flowers of God!"
Morphology:
These herbaceous perennials come in a monotony of profiles, with over 300 different species identified. Producer Donna's Dianthus is specifically a Dianthus caryophyllus, more commonly known as a "carnation" or "clove pink." They often grow up to 32 in. (80 cm) in height, and tend to sprout long greyish green to blue-green leaves. The bright flowers grow either individually or in small clusters of up to 5, and are sweetly scented. They can come in a number of different colors, like the pink shown here, such as red, yellow, white, and even green. If you see a blue one, please note it's been dyed like that. There are no known true blue Dianthus caryophyllus.
Distribution & Habitat:
Wild carnations started their existence in Mediterranean countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Albania, Greece and Turkey. Their beauty and hardiness have seen them spread across the world wherever flowering plants are kept. They enjoy well-draining, neutral to alkaline soils and plenty of sunshine, so they grow well where there isn't much tall foliage to block them from the sun.
Care:
This is a very easy to grow plant. They love sunshine, but can put up with partial shade, and constant bright sun exposure will dull the flowers somewhat. Morning sun is usually the best, allowing for some shade in the afternoon. For soil, look to make "sweet soil," well-draining and slightly alkaline in nature. Slightly higher concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and sodium can get the soil right. If it's too acidic, try adding some lime to knock modify the pH accordingly. Water regularly in the spring to encourage flower production. These plants are drought tolerant, but don't push them to any limits. A bit of all purpose fertilizer once in a while will keep the blossoms going strong all summer. Slow-release fertilizers are ideal to avoid potential harm down the road. Removing the spent flowers will encourage new blooms though if you want them to reseed themselves for next year, leave them uncut.
With Regard to Other Pets:
A precaution, Dianthus is mildly toxic to both cats and dogs. They contain triterpenoid saponins, and we've discussed saponins before in these posts. Consumption of carnations in cats and dogs can cause vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, and mild lethargy. If you believe your fur friend has nibbled on a carnation, contact your vet immediately to get them the relief they need. Let the vet know it was a carnation, and they're sure to be able to help your fur baby out of this discomforting debacle. If you keep Dianthus, keep it as out-of-reach of your fur friends as possible.
We hope you found this article informative and fun! Stay tuned for future installments, available on Tuesdays, as we continue to explore the various flora and fauna the Nick's Newsies care for! If you have any questions or would like to submit your own flora and fauna for consideration by all means contact us here on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. As always we love you all, and have a great day!
