Comments on: Carnationist Aspirations – Infatuated with Malmaison Carnations

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 19:28:55 +0000

Hi Matt,
Did you have any success with the Duchess of Westminster? Did they flower for you?

-Christy

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 08:04:14 +0000

Hi Matt, love your enthusiasm for historic garden plants. It's one I share! I saw malmaison carnations at Hampton Court Flower Show many years ago (Jim Marshall's stand) and have had a fascination with them ever since. Like you, I have found the information on them is very scant. Good luck with your quest. Rob

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 03:14:19 +0000

Dear 02568
I so enjoy your comments! Now, there is a film I have to get – was Gerard Depardieu young in it I wonder? Is it in French with subtitles? Who cares, it sounds like a film I would enjoy and believe me, there are very few! As for Longwood, I did see a greenhouse full of about 3 varieties a few years ago ( about 5 years ago), but I think they were miniatures. I have been told by 'someone who knows about such things' that they do have some tall carnations as well, but I have also heard that they are rather tight when it comes to sharing. Perhaps I can convince them with a good trade???

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 23:22:53 +0000

dear matt
your carnation post made me think of the opening scenes of "Jean de Florette" with gerard depardieu, where the soldier son of the covetous scheming family comes home from WWI clutching a jacketful of precious carnation cuttings. did you ever see it? the cuttings represented a potential fortune at that time, i suppose.
i saw tall pink carnations, although i don't know what variety, being grown quite a few years back, under glass at Longwood. probably late 70's or early 80's.
all best,
~ 02568

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 23:03:03 +0000

In reply to Nic. Thanks Nic. Let's hope that Annies starts to carry more varieties!

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 23:02:26 +0000

In reply to AmyO. Oh Amy, I can just visualize that greenhouse range right now! I love those old greenhouse structures, wood and glass, with covered paths and mini greenhouses that connected them all. I used to work at a couple of places like that, I have no idea how they ever could afford to heat them, I suppose coal, or oil was cheaper then. One of my first crops raised in high school was a carnation crop, and at Stockbridge, I had to be on a team who raised one. Here in Mass, there were so many large ranges of rose and carnation growers, but now? All gone.

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:58:38 +0000

In reply to Justin Brown. Justin, you should be able to find 'Chaubaud Giants' on-line, it's available either as a mix, or as single selections on many seed sites. I too love the 'Merletto Crimson' carnations as well as many of the other commercial varieties, but sadly, most, if not all are registered ( Merletto is owned and propagated by SB Talee in Colombia) and only available overseas as vegetative cuttings, they will not come true from seed. I wish that someone would develop a better seed selection, or, start selling cuttings in the US. Thanks for your comment!

By: Justin Brown

Justin Brown — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:47:21 +0000

Your post could not have been more timely, I just got my carnation seeds in the mail today! I am in love with the 'Merletto Crimson' carnation. Unfortunately, I have had to settle with generic varieties because of the absolute lack of choices in the US. They even stopped carrying the meager 'Chabaud Giants' carnation seeds at my local nursery, another testament to the loss of interest in growing carnations here.

By: AmyO

AmyO — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 18:41:05 +0000

One of my first jobs was at a florist and greenhouse in Great Barrington, MA taking care of the benches full of carnations! I learned how to tie the support netting, dis-bud for larger blooms, cut when ready, etc. this was a pretty large operation with a rabbit-warren of old glass houses! It was loads of fun and something new to learn in every season!

By: Nic

Nic — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 09:03:49 +0000

Thank you for that very informative post! I have been fascinated with old-fashioned cut flower carnations for a while; I got two of the perpetual varieties from Annie's Annuals last spring, and am now trying to propagate more and more cuttings from them so I can plant a whole bunch in the spring. I am going to have to see that I get my hands on 'Duchess of Westminster' as well!