Carnation

flowers · fragrant · Mediterranean

Spicy scent. Carnations smell like cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg all mixed together. This amazing fragrance is why people call them 'clove pinks' and use them in perfumes and potpourri.

Rainbow of colors. Carnations come in nearly every color you can imagine, from bright pink and red to purple, yellow, and white. Each color can mean something different depending on where you live.

Love and meaning. For thousands of years, people have given carnations to show affection, respect, and especially to honor mothers. Different cultures use different colored carnations to send special messages.

Ancient origins. Carnations come from the Mediterranean region and have been grown and bred by humans for over 2,000 years. People have grown them for so long that we are not completely sure what the wild ones looked like originally.

Fancy petals. Carnations have delicate, ruffled petals with frilly edges that look like they have been carefully cut with tiny scissors. These pretty fringed edges make them extra special as decorative flowers.