{"id":10945,"date":"2022-04-20T15:19:38","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T13:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flowersandlovers.lt\/carnations\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T15:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T13:00:16","slug":"carnations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flowersandlovers.lt\/en\/carnations\/","title":{"rendered":"Carnations: colour meanings, varieties and care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Carnations are among the hardiest cut flowers: properly cared for, they last two and sometimes three weeks in a vase. Florists value them for their sturdy stems, wide range of colours and gentle, spicy scent. In Lithuania carnations were long associated with official Soviet-era celebrations, but contemporary floristry has rediscovered them: pastel, spray and bicoloured carnations now grace both wedding and everyday bouquets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide: what the different carnation colours mean, which types there are, how to care for them and what they pair with best in a bouquet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What carnation colours mean<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Carnation symbolism took shape in Victorian England, when flowers were used to send messages. Today these meanings are more inspiration than strict rules, but they help you choose a shade for the occasion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Red<\/strong> \u2013 love, admiration and respect. Deep red, burgundy carnations traditionally stand for deep feelings.<\/li>\n\n\n
White<\/strong> \u2013 purity, luck and faithfulness. They suit weddings and christenings, and with greenery also a sympathy bouquet.<\/li>\n\n\n
Pink<\/strong> \u2013 gratitude and a mother\u2019s love; the pink carnation is the one most often associated with Mother\u2019s Day.<\/li>\n\n\n
Yellow<\/strong> \u2013 in the old language of flowers they meant disappointment, but today yellow carnations are given as a symbol of joy and warmth.<\/li>\n\n\n
Purple and bicoloured<\/strong> \u2013 originality and playfulness; in a bouquet they act as a bold accent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Another custom is alive in Lithuania: when giving a few flowers, an odd number is given to the living, while even numbers are reserved for funerals. In large bouquets with greenery nobody counts the flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Types of carnations: standard, spray and garden pinks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bouquets use varieties of the carnation (lat. Dianthus caryophyllus<\/em>). The genus has about 300 species, but florists mostly work with two types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Standard carnations<\/strong> \u2013 one large flower, about 5\u20137 cm across, on a sturdy stem. They suit single-variety bouquets and tall arrangements.<\/li>\n\n\n
Spray carnations<\/strong> \u2013 3\u20135 smaller flowers and buds on one stem that open gradually. In a bouquet they fill gaps and add lightness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Garden pinks \u2013 sweet William (Dianthus barbatus<\/em>), the garden pink (D. plumarius<\/em>) or the maiden pink (D. deltoides<\/em>) \u2013 belong to the same genus but are rarely used in cut bouquets: their stems are shorter and the flowers small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White standard carnations in a vase<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Carnation names in Lithuanian, English and Latin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Lithuanian name comes from the Polish go\u017adzik<\/em>, \u201clittle nail\u201d: the word was used both for the spice cloves and for the flower, whose blooms smell similar. The Greek genus name Dianthus<\/em> translates as \u201cflower of the gods\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How long carnations last in a vase and how to care for them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Carnations usually last 10\u201314 days in a vase, and up to three weeks in a cool room with regular water changes. To get there:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Cut the stems at an angle<\/strong>, 2\u20133 cm, with a sharp knife. Carnation stems have nodes (swellings) \u2013 cut between them, as water rises less well through a node.<\/li>\n\n\n
Remove the lower leaves<\/strong> so they do not sit in the water \u2013 bacteria multiply in them quickly.<\/li>\n\n\n
Place in a clean vase with cool water<\/strong> and add flower food if it came with your bouquet.<\/li>\n\n\n
Change the water every two days<\/strong>, trimming the stems by about 1 cm each time.<\/li>\n\n\n
Keep them away from fruit.<\/strong> Carnations are very sensitive to ethylene, released by apples, bananas and other ripening fruit: it makes the flowers close and wilt within a few days.<\/li>\n\n\n
Avoid heat and draughts<\/strong> \u2013 a radiator or direct sun shortens the life of the bouquet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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