Facts about Carnations:

• Carnations are the flower of the birth month for January.
• Carnations are also the official flower for 1st wedding anniversaries.
• Surprisingly carnations are edible.
• Carnations were once used to send secret messages.
• They’re also known as the ‘flower of the gods’.
• The flowers are believed to have medicinal properties.
• Carnations are usually chosen as funeral flowers in France.
• Children in South Korea give pink and red Carnations to their parents on Parent’s Day.

What do Carnations mean?

Carnations are said to symbolize devotion, love, and fascination. They’re the perfect swap if you fancy a change from that bouquet of roses for your partner.

The flowers are said to get their name from the Greek word for coronation because they were featured in flower crowns. But some argue that they come from the Greek word ‘carnis‘ which means ‘flesh’ because the original flowers were usually a soft shade of pink. We think we prefer the coronation theory.

                                       Carnation color meanings

Red Carnations:

Red is the color of love, and this meaning applies to red carnations, too. Carnations in vibrant red shades can be given to someone you love to let them know how strong your feelings are.

When to give red carnations:

Swap your Valentine’s roses for a bouquet of carnations in a heart-rate-raising shade of red. Plus, you’ll save a little money, too, so you can treat them to their favorite chocolates or a bottle of something fizzy to celebrate your time together.

White Carnations:

White carnations mean good luck and we reckon that no one can say no to a little good luck charm in the form of a flower.

when to give white carnations:

Present these stunning blooms to someone about to head off to take an exam or go on their first day in a new job.

It should perk them up, remind them you’re rooting for them, and give them something to look forward to when it’s all over.

Purple Carnations:

Purple carnations represent capriciousness which is when someone is spontaneous or adventurous. They’re the perfect choice for an impulsive friend you can’t keep up with.

When to Give Purple Carnations:

Send a bunch of these to wish a close friend well who is perhaps off on an adventure, maybe they’re going traveling or are starting a new job in a new location. Purple carnations reflect their wild side while still sending a sweet message that you’ll miss them.

Pink Carnations:

Pink carnations mean gratitude and thankfulness. In America, pink carnations are the unofficial flower of Mother’s Day when kids want to let their ‘Mom’ know how much they appreciate her.

When to Give Pink Carnations:

We don’t think there’s a bad time to give a pretty-in-pink bunch of carnations but they’re a great thank you gift. Send them to someone who has helped you out or just to say thanks for always being there. There’s nothing better than a bouquet of surprise flowers.

Yellow Carnations:

We think you should just enjoy yellow carnations for they are a great looking bloom. Because their meaning isn’t actually that happy. Yellow carnations are believed to mean rejection and disappointment, not usually the vibe you’re going for when you send a bunch of flowers.

When to give Yellow Carnations:

Ignore the sentiment that’s said to be behind these blooms and give yellow carnations to someone who simply needs a little color in their lives. Yellow always cheers us up, so these flowers should do the trick.

Striped Carnations:

You’ll find carnations come in all sorts of wonderful patterns and colours and we loved the striped variety. These blooms however don’t have the happiest meaning, symbolising regret.