Carnations are one of the most popular flowers for use in arrangements and for adornment. They are sturdy, and relatively inexpensive to purchase. Their blooms are a sea of endless petals creating ruffles all the way across the tops. The stems of carnations are thick, with joints or 'knuckles' down their lengths. They have small, blade-like, silvery leaves which usually curve back towards the bottom of the plant. Some species produce one large bloom at the end of each stem, while others generate many stems with multiple, smaller blooms. They are most known, however, for those larger blooms, pure globes of intense tones. Colors abound, with pink, red and white the most popular. There are also shades of green, yellow, purple, orange among many others. Variegated versions exist which combine two colors in different ways, including stripes and just barely there tints on the petal tips.
The carnation has been cultivated for over 2,000 years. The Romans enjoyed carnations, calling them 'Jove's flowers' after one of their gods. The carnation belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. The scientific name for the genus is Dianthus, a word meaning divine flower. Originally, the only color of the blooms was a pale pinkish hue, not the plethora which exists today. There are almost as many theories about the origins of the name 'carnation' as there are colors of the flower. One theory is that the name comes from the Greek word for 'coronation' or from 'corona' (meaning crowning and crown), because carnations were often used in floral crowns. Another theory states that the term comes from the Latin word for flesh (carnis), because of the flowers' original soft pink, flesh-like color. Still another hypothesis has its root in religious convention. According to this tradition, carnations sprung from the ground when Mary, the mother of Christ, cried at her son's crucifixion. The flowers were named after the 'incarnation' of a god in human flesh. These are only some of the many speculations surrounding the birth and naming of one extremely popular flower.
Throughout the ages, carnations have been used for some pretty interesting things. They were used to create background washes by Elizabethan portrait painters. Some species have been used in different herbal remedies. Most often today, carnations are used to symbolize motherly love, probably because of the previously mentioned attachment of the flower with the mother of Christ. Different colors of carnations are worn to honor mothers on dedicated days in the United States, Canada, and other countries. Carnations are also a current gardening favorite as well. Most species prefer well drained and even thrive in rocky soil types. The carnation was considered a little out of date and too boring by many designers for a few decades, limiting their use to simple arrangements and corsages. Because of a revitalization of all things vintage, carnations are enjoying a revived place in design, appearing on textiles and numerous other commodities.