Flower library · Vase and office
Carnation
Carnations are frilled, ruffled flowers on slim, jointed stems, sold as standards with one large flower per stem or sprays with several smaller ones. They are among the longest-lasting cut flowers and are used widely in offices, bouquets and events. They are also very sensitive to ethylene from fruit.
Dianthus caryophyllus
Season
Year round from polyhouses; best quality in the cooler months.
Vase life
10–14 days in a vase
Colours
Red, Pink, White, Yellow, Orange, Purple, Green, Bicolour
Grown in
Carnations in India come mostly from polyhouses in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, with smaller production in Uttarakhand and elsewhere.
01
How to pick fresh
Family Caryophyllaceae
- aStems are grey-green, slim and jointed, with narrow leaves in pairs at each joint. Flowers have ruffled petals with serrated edges.
- bStandard carnations have one flower per stem, 5–8 cm across; spray carnations have several smaller flowers per stem.
- cChoose flowers that are partly open with firm petals. Tight buds that show no colour may not open.
- dAvoid flowers whose petals are curling inward at the edges. This 'sleepiness' shows ethylene damage or age.
- eThe stem joints should be firm and green, with no soft spots or browning.
02
Keeping it fresh
- Recut stems between the joints, 2–3 cm up, at an angle. Stems cut through a joint take up water poorly.
- Remove leaves below the waterline and change the water every two days.
- Keep carnations well away from fruit bowls, since they are very sensitive to ethylene and will wilt and fail to open.
- Keep them out of direct sun and away from heaters and AC vents.
- Remove spent flowers from spray carnations so the buds can open.
03
Where it is used
- Carnations are used in office arrangements for their long vase life.
- They are a common flower in bouquets, often as a filler around roses or lilies.
- Events use them in table centres, backdrops and boutonnieres.
- They are used in corporate gift bouquets.
04
Carnation in your city
Pune's mild weather suits carnations, and stems often last two weeks.
Carnations handle Delhi's heat better than most flowers, though water should be changed daily in summer.
Indore's dry summers call for water changes every day or two.
Chandigarh is close to Himachal growers, and its cool winters give carnations a long vase life.
Mumbai's humidity can cause petal spotting, so keep the vase in an airy room.
Bangalore's mild climate gives carnations one of their longest vase lives.
Hyderabad's summer heat shortens vase life; keep them in a cool room out of the sun.
Ahmedabad's dry heat wilts carnations faster, so keep them cool and change water daily.
Kolkata's humid months can spot petals, so keep carnations in a ventilated room.
05
Get it delivered
06
Questions
How long do carnations last in a vase?
Around ten to fourteen days, sometimes three weeks in cool weather, if the water is changed every two days and they are kept away from fruit.
Why are my carnations wilting?
The most common cause is ethylene from ripening fruit nearby. Move the vase away from fruit bowls, recut the stems between joints and change the water.
Where should I cut carnation stems?
Cut between the joints, not through them. The joints take up water poorly, so a cut through a joint shortens vase life.
Do carnations have a scent?
Some carnations have a light clove-like scent, but most modern trade varieties have little or none.
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