By flower · all year
Carnations: the Mother’s Day flower
Cheap, hardy and with more history than it seems: the carnation is the flower of Mother’s Day, of Portugal’s Carnation Revolution and of Spanish tradition.
- Scientific name
- Dianthus caryophyllusfrom the Mediterranean
- Season
- All yearoutdoors, spring and summer
- Meaning
- A mother’s loveand admiration
- Vase life
- 2 to 3 weeksone of the longest-lasting flowers
What each carnation color means
The carnation speaks of love and admiration, with nuances depending on the color:
- Pink: a mother’s love and gratitude. It is the most popular color on Mother’s Day.
- Red: deep admiration and passion. In Spain it is tied to flamenco and festivals; in Portugal, to freedom.
- White: pure affection, luck and remembrance. It was the first Mother’s Day carnation, and in some countries it is worn in tribute to a mother who has died.
- Fuchsia and two-tone: joy and energy; very fashionable in modern bouquets.
- Yellow: in the Victorian language of flowers it meant disappointment. Hardly anyone reads it that way today, but if you want to avoid any double meaning, choose another color.
The carnation and Mother’s Day
The story of the carnation as the flower of mothers begins in the US. In 1908, Anna Jarvis organized a tribute to her mother and handed out white carnations, her favorite flower. The day became official in 1914 and the carnation traveled with it to much of the Americas and Europe. Today it is the most common flower on these dates:
| Date | What is celebrated and why | Flower | Color | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Sunday of May | Mother’s Day In Spain it is celebrated on the first Sunday of May, the month Catholic tradition dedicates to the Virgin Mary. Carnations and peonies are the classics. | Carnations, roses or peonies | Pink | Spain and Portugal |
| 2nd Sunday of May | Mother’s Day Anna Jarvis promoted the day in the USA in 1908 and chose the carnation, her mother’s favorite flower. From there it spread to much of the Americas and Europe. | Carnations | Pink | USA, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, Italy and more |
| every year | Mother’s Day (Día de las Madres) In Mexico it has been a fixed date since 1922, when the newspaper Excélsior promoted the celebration. Serenade, family lunch and a bouquet that can’t be missing. | Roses and carnations | Pink | Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador |
A flower with history in Spain and Portugal
The carnation is native to the Mediterranean basin and has been grown since ancient times. In Spain it is the flower of the embroidered shawl, of the feria and of traditional song: without being the official national flower, it is the one most associated with the country.
In Portugal it carries even more weight. On April 25, 1974, the soldiers who overthrew the dictatorship took to the streets and people put red carnations in the barrels of their rifles. The Carnation Revolution is commemorated every year and the red carnation is still the symbol of that day.
Today Colombia is the world’s largest carnation exporter: its greenhouses on the Bogotá savanna supply florists across half the planet all year round.
Carnation season
Thanks to greenhouses, carnations can be found all twelve months and at a good price. Outdoors they bloom in spring and summer. According to the seasonal table:
- Spain: May.
- Mexico and Central America: January, February, April, May, December.
- Argentina, Chile and Uruguay: June, July.
How to make carnations last three weeks
- Cut the stem at an angle just above a node (the swellings on the stem): water rises less easily through the node.
- Remove the lower leaves, and the small side buds if you want a bigger main flower.
- Change the water every two or three days. Carnations are sensitive to ethylene, so keep them away from fruit.
- Avoid heat: in a cool spot they last twice as long.
Tip: a well-chosen bunch of carnations costs less than a bouquet of roses and lasts twice as long. For gifts that need to go the distance, like Mother’s Day or visiting someone in hospital, it is a safe bet.
Remind me 3 days before
Download the reminder and open it with your phone’s calendar: it repeats every year and alerts you three days before, so you have time to order the bouquet.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to give carnations?
Love and admiration. Pink stands for a mother’s love, red for passion and admiration, and white for pure affection and remembrance.
Why is the carnation the Mother’s Day flower?
Because Anna Jarvis, who promoted Mother’s Day in the US in 1908, handed out white carnations, her mother’s favorite flower. The custom spread across the Americas and Europe.
How long does a bunch of carnations last?
Two to three weeks if you change the water and trim the stem above a node. It is one of the longest-lasting cut flowers.
What was the Carnation Revolution?
The uprising of April 25, 1974 that ended the dictatorship in Portugal. The soldiers had red carnations in their rifles and the carnation became a symbol of freedom.
Is the carnation Spain’s national flower?
Spain has no official national flower, but the carnation is the flower most associated with the country, with flamenco and with local festivals.
