If you love the look and scent of carnations, you might be looking for other flowers similar to carnations – with ruffled, fragrant petals. The good news is, the plant world is full of beautiful alternatives that offer that same charming, old-fashioned appeal. These blooms bring texture, wonderful perfume, and a touch of romance to any garden or vase. Let’s look at some fantastic options you can grow.
Many plants share the carnation’s delightful characteristics. They often feature layered, frilly petals and a scent that can range from spicy to sweet. Some are close botanical cousins, while others simply share a visual style. By planting a few of these, you can extend your bloom season and enjoy that carnation-like beauty for months.
Flowers Similar To Carnations – With Ruffled, Fragrant Petals
This list highlights the best flowers that mimic the carnation’s most loved traits. We’ll cover their growing needs, how they smell, and tips for using them in your garden.
Dianthus Species: The Carnation’s Immediate Family
The genus Dianthus is where carnations themselves live. So, looking at other plants in this family is the perfect place to start. They all share the signature fringed or ruffled petal edges.
- Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus): These form clusters of small, tightly packed flowers on each stem. They are wonderfully fragrant and come in rich reds, pinks, whites, and bicolors. They are typically grown as biennials or short-lived perennials.
- Cheddar Pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus): A fantastic perennial ground cover. It forms low, grassy mats covered in small, hot pink flowers with a spicy, clove-like scent. Perfect for rock gardens or the front of a border.
- China Pinks (Dianthus chinensis): Often grown as annuals, these provide a long season of frilly blooms. While some modern varieties have less scent, seek out heirloom types for the best fragrance.
Flowers with Deeply Ruffled Blooms
These flowers take the idea of ruffled petals to an extream, creating stunning, full blossoms.
- Double Tulips (Peony-Flowered Tulips): These tulips have so many petals they resemble peonies—or very full carnations. Varieties like ‘Angelique’ (soft pink) or ‘Mount Tacoma’ (white) are stunning. They lack significant fragrance but make up for it in visual impact.
- Ranunculus: Known for their tightly wound, paper-thin petals, ranunculus are a favorite for bouquets. They come in almost every color except true blue. Plant the corms in fall or early spring for spring blooms.
- Double Impatiens: These shade-loving annuals produce rose-like blooms all summer. They are not fragrant, but their texture and constant color are a great substitute in shady spots where carnations wouldn’t thrive.
Fragrant Stars with Textured Petals
Here, the fragrance is the star, paired with beautiful petal forms.
- Stock (Matthiola incana): A classic for fragrance. Their blooms are double or single on tall spikes and smell sweet and spicy. They excel in cool weather, making them perfect for spring and fall gardens. Colors include purple, white, pink, and yellow.
- Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus): While their petals are more like a butterfly than a carnation, the ruffled standard petals on many varieties and their incredible, honeyed scent earn them a spot. They are a must-grow for any fragrant garden on trellises or fences.
- Heliotrope: Known for its powerful vanilla-cherry pie scent, heliotrope forms clusters of small, deep purple or white flowers. The clusters have a fluffy, ruffled appearance from a distance. It’s often grown as an annual.
Garden Perennials with a Ruffled Look
These reliable plants come back year after year with their distinctive flowers.
- Peonies (Paeonia): The bombastic cousin of the carnation. Their massive, layered blooms are the epitome of ruffled luxury. Many varieties, especially the heirloom types, have a lovely, light scent. They are long-lived perennials that demand little once established.
- Columbine (Aquilegia): Their spurred flowers are unique, but many double-flowered varieties, like the ‘Nora Barlow’, have dense clusters of ruffled petals. They add a whimsical, cottage-garden feel and attract hummingbirds.
- Certain Roses: Look for “very double” or “quartered” rose varieties. Old Garden Roses like ‘Jacques Cartier’ or English Roses like ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ have many petals arranged in a beautifully ruffled, rosette shape. Their fragrance is usually outstanding.
How to Grow and Care for These Alternatives
Success starts with the right conditions. While needs vary, here are general guidelines for most carnation-like flowers.
Sunlight and Soil Requirements
Almost all these plants need one thing most: plenty of sun.
- Full Sun: Aim for at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. This ensures strong stems, abundant blooms, and the best fragrance development. Dianthus, roses, peonies, and stock all thrive in full sun.
- Well-Drained Soil: This is non-negotiable, especially for the Dianthus family. They hate wet feet. Amend heavy clay soil with compost or grit to improve drainage. Raised beds are an excellent option.
- Soil pH: Most prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil. If your soil is very acidic, a light application of garden lime can be beneficial, particular for dianthus.
Planting and Watering Tips
Getting them off to a good start is key.
- Planting Time: Plant perennials in early spring or early fall. Plant annuals like stock or sweet peas after the last frost, or in fall in mild climates.
- Spacing: Give plants enough room for air circulation. This prevents fungal diseases that can affect dense, ruffled petals.
- Watering: Water deeply at the base of the plant to keep foliage dry. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Morning watering is best.
Feeding and Deadheading for More Blooms
To keep the flowers coming, a little maintenance goes a long way.
- Fertilizer: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time. For heavy bloomers like roses and peonies, a fertilizer higher in phosphorus (the middle number) can promote better flowering.
- Deadheading: Regularly remove spent blooms. This tells the plant to produce more flowers instead of setting seed. Simply snip off the old flower head just above a set of leaves.
- Pinching: For plants like sweet peas and stock, pinching the tip of young plants encourages them to branch out and produce more flowering stems.
Designing Your Garden with Ruffled, Fragrant Flowers
Think about how to place these plants for maximum effect.
Creating a Sensory Border
Design a garden bed that delights both the eyes and the nose.
- Place Taller Plants at the Back: Use stock, sweet peas on a small obelisk, or peonies as background elements.
- Layer Mid-Height Plants: Carnations, taller dianthus, and heliotrope fill the middle layer.
- Edge with Low-Growers: Use Cheddar pinks or low-growing dianthus as a fragrant, flowering edging along a path where you’ll brush against them.
Container Combinations
You don’t need a big garden to enjoy these blooms.
- Thriller, Filler, Spiller: For a pot, choose a tall ‘thriller’ like a stock plant, a ‘filler’ of bushy double impatiens or ranunculus, and a ‘spiller’ like trailing sweet alyssum (which also adds fragrance).
- Single Variety Pots: A pot filled solely with ranunculus or a compact dianthus variety can be incredibly striking and easier to manage.
Cutting and Enjoying Blooms Indoors
One of the great joys of these flowers is bringing them inside.
Best Practices for Cutting
To make your bouquets last as long as possible:
- Cut at the Right Time: Cut flowers in the early morning or late evening when they are most hydrated. Choose buds that are just beginning to open.
- Use Sharp, Clean Shears: This makes a clean cut and prevents crushing the stem. Recut the stems underwater at a 45-degree angle before arranging to prevent air bubbles.
- Immediate Hydration: Place stems directly into a bucket of warm water after cutting. Let them sit in a cool, dark place for a few hours before arranging.
Making Arrangements Last
- Vase Prep: Use a clean vase and fresh water. Add commercial flower food or a DIY mix (a drop of bleach, a teaspoon of sugar, and a few drops of vinegar).
- Remove Foliage: Strip any leaves that will be below the water line to keep the water clean.
- Location: Keep your arrangement away from direct sunlight, heating vents, and ripening fruit (which releases ethylene gas).
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Even the best gardeners face challenges. Here’s how to handle a few.
Pests to Watch For
- Aphids: These small bugs cluster on new growth. Blast them off with a strong jet of water or use insecticidal soap.
- Spider Mites: Tiny pests that cause stippling on leaves, especially in hot, dry weather. Increase humidity and hose down plants regularly.
- Slugs and Snails: They love tender petals. Use organic slug bait or beer traps to protect your blooms.
Disease Prevention
Good gardening habits prevent most issues.
- Powdery Mildew: Appears as white powder on leaves. Ensure good air circulation, water at the base, and choose resistant varieties.
- Botrytis (Gray Mold): Affects flowers in cool, wet weather. Remove and discard any infected plant parts immediately. Avoid overhead watering.
- Rust: Orange spots on leaves, common on some dianthus. Remove affected leaves and avoid wetting the foliage.
FAQ: Flowers Like Carnations
What flower looks most like a carnation?
Other Dianthus species, like Sweet William or certain garden pinks, look the most identical due to their shared genus and fringed petals.
What are the most fragrant flowers like carnations?
Stock, sweet peas, and many old-fashioned dianthus varieties offer the strongest, most delightful scents, ranging from spicy to sweet.
Can I get perennial flowers that look like carnations?
Yes! Many are perennials. Peonies, Columbine (especially double types), Cheddar Pinks, and many roses are perennials that provide ruffled blooms year after year.
What is a good carnation-like flower for shade?
Double impatiens are your best bet for a shade-loving flower with a full, ruffled bloom structure, though they are not typically fragrant.
How do I get more blooms on my ruffled flowers?
Consistent deadheading is the number one trick. Also, ensure they have enough sun, and use a balanced fertilizer to support their energy needs.
Adding these flowers to your garden expands your palette with texture and scent. By choosing a mix of annuals and perennials, you can ensure a sucesion of beautiful, ruffled blooms from spring through fall. Start with one or two that catch your eye, and you’ll likely find yourself wanting to try them all. The combination of visual beauty and enchanting fragrance they provide is truly special for any garden space.