Archive note: This article describes gardens and plant offerings at Annie’s former Richmond nursery. Check linked product pages for current online availability.
Introducing John Barrington’s Deliciously Fragrant Heirloom Carnations
Glowing in the garden, Dianthus ‘Queen of Hearts.‘ Thank you John Barrington!
If any of you follow my ramblings over the past several decades, you know that I am enamored with the genus Dianthus. Now, not those silly, boinky, dwarfed, sadly scentless and die-really-fast ones you get at the box stores and garden centers, but the cottagey-perennial, divinely fragrant, long-lived, prolific bloomers of my gardens at the former Richmond nursery.
Interestingly, our most popular Dianthus has been the strange and fantastical (but not intensely scented) Carnation type Dianthus ‘Chomely Farran.’ As far as I can tell, it is the last remaining (at least in the US) of a huge group of Carnation types called “Bizarres” that were very popular prior to 1830. Looking for any information on “Bizarres” and another category of lost Dianthus called “Flakes’ I came across a reprint of Thomas Hogg’s 1839 book, “A Practical Treatise,” which lists well over 200 named varieties of ‘Bizarres.’ How exciting!
Nearly perfect and oh-so-psychedelic ‘Chomley Farran’, why can’t you be more fragrant?
Wondering if there could be any of these heirloom Dianthus still alive somewhere in the world led me to Google every named variety listed in Hogg’s book until ding-ding! A hit!
Off I flew to the UK – to the house and nursery of Carnation fanatic and devotee John Barrington in Somerset, England. Tucked away on a 200-acre farm in the middle of what seems like nowhere, John is passionate about recapturing the long stemmed, ever-blooming Carnations of old and has devoted his life to bringing romance – and most importantly FRAGRANCE – back to this heirloom favorite.
Walking through John’s greenhouses, packed with hundreds of varieties in tidy rows, was like waking up on Christmas morning! So welcoming and kind-hearted, John was delighted to share the delicious scents we had only dreamed of! It was like I had found the Holy Grail of Carnation-kind!
Row upon row of heirloom Carnation inspiration!!
As I thrilled to each new scent, he excitedly bounced around taking cuttings of all the varieties I liked the best. To meet someone so obsessed with one particular plant – and so dedicated to saving and recapturing an important piece of horticultural history – made this my favorite plant hunting experience ever! If you ever find yourself in the UK, you must visit him. I guarantee you will love him as much as I did!
At the time, after two years of increasing our stock, we were thrilled to share these enchanting heirlooms. Almost non-stop blooming (year-round in the mild local climate), strongly perennial and vigorous – we offered the prettiest and most fragrant of the bunch. Among them is a legendary “Flake.”
The purrrr-fect “Flake”- introducing ‘Cheshire Cat!’
‘White Rabbit’ boasts the most fragrance of all!
Off with its head! ‘Queen of Hearts’ makes a fabulous cut flower.
