Carnations
The unsung heroes of the flower world
Carnations are one of my most consistent flower choices. I absolutely love their soft, fluffy texture! (I’ll say it—they remind me of a miniature peony.) One of their greatest strengths is their wide range of colors. If you’re ever stuck building a bouquet, 9 times out of 10, a carnation will fit right in, and their fluffy texture will instantly make any arrangement feel full.
Not only are they a budget-friendly option, but they’re also almost always available at your local supermarket. And let’s talk about longevity—carnations last for ages. I once saw someone on Instagram (I wish I could remember who to give proper credit—thank you, whoever you are!) say that carnations could practically survive an apocalypse. If that’s not a testament to their durability, I don’t know what is!
They’re practical, beautiful, and reliable—what more could you want in a flower?
Happy arranging!
A bit about carnations
Price: $
Avg Vase Life: 9 -14 days (These are very sturdy flowers, and often last even longer!)
Texture: Soft. and fluffy
Prep Time: Quick (They have only a few small leaves that need to be pulled off the stem)
Pet Safe: Toxic (Can cause: vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, hyper-salivation, oral ulcers and wobbly gait.)
Season: Spring (These can often be found all year around in supermarkets, depending on where you’re shopping)
Water: 3-4 inches of lukewarm water
Tips:
You can use your fingers to open them up if you want a fluffier look. (unlike other flowers you won’t hurt them)
Trim them at a 45 degree angle in between to nodes. That makes it easier for them to soak up the water.
As you clean off the leaves hold on tightly to the stem, to make sure you don’t accidentally break it.
Recipes
Bouquet 1: Carnations /Garden roses / Mums / Spray roses / Aster
Bouquet 2: Carnations / Dahlias / Wax flowers / Garden roses / Spray roses
Bouquet 3: Carnations / Stock / Ranunculus