The carnation has a long history of 20 centuries. It is believed that the first carnation appeared on earth from Mother Mary’s tears while Jesus bore his own cross. Being perhaps the oldest flower in the world it was called ‘gillyflower’ in old English. The botanic name of the plant is ‘dianthus caryophyllus’ which when translated means ‘the flower of love’ or the ‘flower of the god’. This pristine flower has been an all time favourite and symbolizes fascination, admiration and deep love.

Though the predominant shades of carnation in ancient times used to be peach and a paler pink, over time, the range of colours gradually extended to include white, purple, red, yellow and sometimes even green. Most shades of carnation bear a meaning of their own. The lighter shade of red suggests admiration while the darker shade signifies love. The white ones symbolize purity and good fortune and the pink expresses gratitude. This divine flower stands single at the end of a long stalk and has a somewhat frilly appearance. The stem is brittle and the leaves are placed alternately. The annual herb, which is available throughout the year in Europe and Asia and America, requires fertile, loamy and well-drained soil to grow best.

Carnation has been declared the official flower for Mother’s Day. In Canada, it is customary to wear a red carnation if one’s mother is alive and a white one if she is no longer with you. It is a well known ornamental flower for the gardens and, due to its long lasting nature, highly regarded as a cut flower.