When to plant Carnation in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Raise Carnation seedlings under cover, sowing in autumn from March to May or in early spring from August to October, then transplanting out once they are sturdy. Seed germinates in 10–20 days at a shallow 6 mm, and plants take around 200 days to reach flowering size. Space them 30–40 cm apart each way in an open, sunny bed. Carnations are hardy and enjoy the mild temperate conditions of Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth, where cool nights bring out their best colour and their unmistakable clove scent.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: March to May and August to October.

Growing notes

Carnations are hardy perennials in temperate Australia, tolerating light frost and rewarding you for years if the drainage is right. They demand full sun and a neutral to slightly alkaline soil that never stays wet; heavy, soggy ground is their undoing.

The most common failure is root and stem rot from overwatering or badly drained beds. In wetter Melbourne or Perth winters, plants sitting in cold, saturated soil collapse at the base. Plant on a slightly raised bed or add grit to open the soil, water at the base rather than over the foliage, and space plants the full 30–40 cm apart so air moves freely and leaves dry quickly after rain.

Give plants a low position that is not crowded and pinch out the growing tips of young plants to encourage bushier growth and more flower stems. As buds form, taller varieties flop and need discreet staking. Deadhead spent blooms to keep the flush going, and feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser rather than a high-nitrogen one, which produces soft, floppy growth prone to disease. After a few years clumps become woody and flower less, so take cuttings or layer stems to renew your stock.

Carnation at a glance

Common questions

Are carnations perennial in temperate Australia?

Yes. In temperate gardens like Adelaide or Perth carnations are hardy short-lived perennials that flower for several years. They gradually become woody, so renewing them from cuttings every few years keeps the display strong.

Why are my carnations rotting at the base?

Almost always poor drainage or overwatering. Carnations hate wet feet, so plant them in gritty, free-draining soil, water at the base, and space them well so foliage dries quickly.

How long do carnations take to flower from seed?

About 200 days from sowing to first flowers. Sowing in autumn or early spring under cover and transplanting sturdy seedlings gives them the run they need to reach flowering size.

Do carnations need full sun?

Yes, they flower best in full sun with at least six hours a day. In too much shade they grow leggy and produce few blooms, and the foliage stays damp and disease-prone.

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