香石竹（学名：Dianthus caryophyllus）即康乃馨，又名狮头石竹、麝香石竹、大花石竹、荷兰石竹，为石竹科石竹属的植物，分布于欧洲温带以及中国大陆的福建、湖北等地，原产于地中海地区，是目前世界上应用最普遍的花卉之一。康乃馨包括许多变种与杂交种，在温室里几乎可以连续不断开花。1907年起，开始以粉红色康乃馨作为母亲节的象征，故今常被作为献给母亲的花。在2000多年前希腊语文献中就在曾提到这种花，古希腊科学家泰奥弗拉斯托斯创造了现在的属名“Dianthus”，这个词来自希腊语“神圣”（dios）和“花”（anthos）。

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.