Oscar Pink & Purple Carnation

Oscar Pink & Purple Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus 'Oscar Pink & Purple') is a compact carnation, only about 20cm tall and wide, packed with full double flowers that have zigzag-edged petals and a sweet, spicy clove scent. The blooms are musk pink with deeper maroon-pink centres, and they keep coming through spring and summer. It is small enough for a pot, a rockery edge or the front of a cottage border.

Why you'll love it

• Scented flowers. The sweet, spicy clove fragrance carries on warm air, so plant it beside a path, doorway or seat where you will brush past.
• Full double blooms. Ruffled petals with zigzag edges give the old-fashioned carnation look from a plant a fraction of the usual size.
• A long season. Flowers appear through spring and summer, which is a lot of colour from one small plant.
• Compact and tidy. At 20cm tall and wide it holds its shape, with no staking, at the front of a border or in a window box.
• Heat and frost tolerant. Oscar carnations are bred to handle hot summers and, once mature, cold winters.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A cluster of plants set 20cm apart fills a pot or window box with scent. Use a free-draining potting mix and keep it in full sun.

Summer bedding and borders. Plant 20cm apart along the front of a bed for a continuous edge of pink. The colour pairs well with silver foliage and white flowers.

Rockeries and cottage gardens. Free-draining pockets between stones suit carnations, and the compact mounds soften hard edges.

Sensory gardens. The clove scent and ruffled petals reward touch and smell, so grow it in raised beds or pots where it can be reached.

Growing Oscar Pink & Purple Carnation in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade; more sun means more flowers. It is heat tolerant and frost tolerant once mature, so it suits temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical gardens. In humid summers give it airflow and a well drained spot, because carnations resent wet crowns.

Soil. A loamy or sandy, free-draining soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline suits it best. On heavy clay, grow it in a pot or a raised bed.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks, then water when the top of the soil dries out. Regular feeding promotes healthy growth and more blooms.

Pruning. Pinch off spent flowers to keep new buds coming, and trim tired stems back after the main flush. Water at the base so the foliage stays dry.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Oscar Pink & Purple Carnation as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small plant with slender leaves and builds into a mound, with flowers following as it grows.

Our tube stock is supplied by our grower, so it comes and goes. If the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none at the moment: press the notify button on this page and we will email you the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Rockery plants for sunny, free-draining spots
• Fragrant plants for paths and courtyards
• Plants that suit pots and containers
• How to create a cottage garden in Australia

Common questions

How big does Oscar Pink & Purple Carnation get?

About 20cm tall and 20cm wide, which suits pots, edges and rockeries. It holds a compact mound shape.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

No. Carnations are mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, so keep pots out of reach of pets that chew plants.

Does it need full sun?

It flowers best in full sun but also grows in part shade. Poor drainage is a bigger problem than shade, so plant in free-draining soil.