Chabaud Giants Benigna is a towering carnation cultivar that reaches a full 24 inches tall, displaying the classic ruffled blooms and sturdy stems that made Chabaud carnations legendary among cut-flower growers. This heirloom variety produces flowers from mid-June through August in zones 7, requiring 112 to 140 days from seed to first bloom. Despite its elegant stature and prolific flowering, Chabaud Giants Benigna remains surprisingly low-maintenance, thriving in full sun with moderate water and genuinely drought-tolerant once established.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
7-7
24in H x 12in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
At 24 inches tall with a disciplined 12-inch spread, this carnation commands attention in any garden bed or vase. The plants flower continuously through summer, and their cut stems last exceptionally well in water, making them as valuable to the home gardener as they are to professional florists. Deer leave them untouched, and pollinators visit reliably throughout the season.
Chabaud Giants Benigna exists primarily as a cut flower. The tall, sturdy stems and long-lasting blooms make it an excellent choice for fresh flower arrangements, bouquets, and floral displays. Home gardeners grow it to harvest flowers at peak bloom for indoor arrangements, where the flowers can persist for two to three weeks in fresh water.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost date. Maintain soil temperature at 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit until germination, which typically occurs in 7 to 14 days. After seedlings emerge, reduce the temperature to 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit to promote strong, compact growth before transplanting.
Transplant seedlings outdoors at or just after your last frost date. Harden off plants gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting in the garden.
In zone 7 and warmer areas where Chabaud carnations overwinter as perennials, direct sow at your last frost date for some flowers in fall and reliable perennial establishment. In warm winter zones 8 and 9, sow in late summer for flowers the following year.
Harvest carnation flowers when the blooms are fully open but still fresh, typically by cutting stems just above a set of healthy leaves. Cut in early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Use sharp, clean scissors to make a clean cut at a 45-degree angle to maximize water uptake and vase life.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“The Chabaud line of carnations originated in the late 19th century in southern France, developed by gardeners seeking to improve upon earlier carnation varieties through careful selection and breeding. The name honors this French heritage, and the 'Giants' designation reflects the vigorous plant size and abundant, full-petaled flowers that became the hallmark of this strain. Chabaud carnations were beloved by both commercial growers and home gardeners who recognized in them a rare combination of horticultural refinement and practical resilience.”