Chabaud Giants Nero Carnation is a striking heirloom carnation that produces deep, dramatic blooms from June through August. Growing to a tidy 24 inches tall with a 12-inch spread, this cultivar of Dianthus caryophyllus flowers reliably in hardiness zone 7 within 112 to 140 days from seed. The plants thrive in full sun with moderate water and are naturally drought-tolerant once established, making them a low-maintenance addition to gardens where their dark flowers and sweet fragrance attract pollinators and resist deer browsing.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
7-7
24in H x 12in W
—
High
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Dark, velvety blooms emerge on long stems perfect for cutting, and these plants flower prolifically throughout the summer months. Sown indoors in late winter, Nero Carnations germinate in just 7 to 14 days and are ready to transplant out after the last frost. The heirloom bloodline means you're growing a variety with a genuine history, not a modern hybrid, and once established, these carnations handle dry spells with grace while demanding very little fertilizer.
Chabaud Giants Nero Carnation is grown primarily as a cut flower, where its long stems and substantial blooms fill vases beautifully and last for weeks in water. Gardeners also cultivate these plants for summer garden color, using them in mixed borders, cottage gardens, and dedicated cutting beds. The flowers' fragrance and ability to attract pollinators make them valuable in gardens designed to support beneficial insects.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your anticipated transplant date at the last frost. Keep seed flats at 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit until germination occurs (expect sprouting in 7 to 14 days), then lower temperatures to 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit to produce stocky, healthy seedlings.
Transplant outdoors at the last frost date once seedlings are hardened off. Space plants 6 inches apart in full sun.
In zone 7 and warmer, direct sow at the last frost date for some fall flowers and potential overwintering. In zones 8 to 9, sow in late summer for flowers the following year.
Cut stems in the early morning when blooms are fully open but still fresh. Harvest by cutting stems at a 45-degree angle with a sharp knife. For prolonged flowering throughout the season, deadhead spent blooms regularly or harvest them for arrangements, which naturally encourages additional flower production.
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“Chabaud Giants represents a significant moment in carnation breeding history. The Chabaud line emerged from careful selection work focused on creating larger, longer-stemmed carnations suited to both garden cultivation and the cut-flower trade. By developing the Giants strain, breeders succeeded in producing carnations that combined the vigor and disease resistance of older heirloom types with the impressive bloom size and form that gardeners and florists demanded. Nero, as a deeply colored cultivar within this lineage, carries forward this legacy of deliberate improvement while retaining the genuine heirloom character that distinguishes it from modern F1 hybrids.”