香石竹（學名：Dianthus caryophyllus，英文名：Carnation）即康乃馨，又名獅頭石竹、麝香石竹^[2]、大花石竹^[3]、荷蘭石竹，為石竹科石竹屬的植物，分布於歐洲溫帶以及中國大陸的福建、湖北等地，原產於地中海地區，是目前世界上應用最普遍的花卉之一。康乃馨包括許多變種與雜交種，在溫室裡幾乎可以連續不斷開花。

1907年起，開始以粉紅色康乃馨作為母親節的象徵，故今常被作為獻給母親的花。

古希臘詩人狄奧弗拉斯圖稱石竹類花為Dianthus（神聖之花）。

16世紀波斯的陶器及瓦片上已繪有重瓣康乃馨花。

Dianthus caryophyllus, carnation or clove pink, is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall. The leaves are glaucous greyish green to blue-green, slender, up to 15 cm long. The flowers are produced singly or up to five together in a cyme; they are 3–5 cm diameter, and sweetly scented; the original natural flower colour is bright pinkish-purple, but cultivars of other colours, including red, white, yellow and green, have been developed.^[