What is a carnation?

What is a carnation?

Holly Vesecky (Owner & Designer, Holly Flora) gives expert video advice on: What are the various types of roses?; What is an orchid?; What is hydrangea? and more...

A carnation is a pretty structured thing. It's usually just one flower on a stalk with tons of petals and they're usually a little frayed. Carnations come in white, pink, yellow, orange, green, purple - lots of colors - and they are grown locally and in South America, too. People are offended by carnations. They have a bad name for themselves, because they are so cheap and long lasting, people think they are not special. But carnations are key in current floral design because you can use them create shapes. People use them to make bulbs, boxes, cubes, triangles, topiary animals - whatever you want. Carnations are a good flower for that because they don't require water for days.