ARE YOU A FLOWER SNOB? I WAS…An Apology to the Carnation

For many years, if you had asked me to name my least favorite flower, I would have answered without hesitation: the carnation.

As a kid, I remember my mom being handed a single, lonely carnation at restaurants on Mother’s Day—usually slightly

wilted, always awkward. In floral arrangements, carnations seemed to stand stiffly at attention among other non-descript blooms in what I mentally labeled the budget bouquet. Most of the carnations I encountered were white, pale pink, or shockingly hot pink or red (you know the ones; grocery store Valentine’s Day chic).

My verdict? Carnations were cheap, dated, and only suitable for tacky arrangements. Case closed.

Well… Carnation, I owe you an apology.

As it turns out, the tacky arrangements weren’t the flower’s fault, they were the florist’s. Once I truly immersed myself in the world of flowers, I discovered that carnations come in gorgeous shades of burgundy, plum, deep red, coral, salmon, cream, rose, and more. When thoughtfully selected and well-designed, they’re anything but boring.

Carnations are incredibly versatile. They can quietly fill out an arrangement or confidently stand on their own. And yes, they’re budget-friendly, but that’s a feature, not a flaw. They’re also absolute workhorses: easy to arrange, long-lasting, and resilient in both hot and cold climates. (Not all flowers can say that.)

Several years ago, a client came to me dreaming of very full arrangements in deep, saturated colors—a romantic, “moody garden” look she dubbed A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Flowers were meant to cascade down staircases, adorn mantels, dress cocktail tables, the bar, the settee, long feasting tables, and, of course, the bridal bouquets. You get the picture.

Our Pinterest board overflowed with peonies, roses, ranunculus, and delphinium. But once we started pricing out that floral fantasy, the dream quickly turned into a budgeting nightmare.

Enter: the carnation.

By incorporating carnations alongside those luxe blooms, we were able to achieve the fullness, texture, and color variation the bride wanted, without blowing the budget. The result was rich, romantic, and abundant. And no one looked at those arrangements and thought, Ah yes, carnations. They just thought, Wow.

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We are not limited to the trite grocery store colors, nor are we required to arrange them like an FTD bouquet from 1997. A quick Google search will show you countless stunning ways to showcase carnations, whether as a supporting player or the star of the show.

With their rigid stems, carnations are easy to work with, and they don’t wilt easily. Planning a wedding in the heat of summer? Carnations are a sturdy, reliable choice that won’t leave you panicking on your wedding day.

A stunning floral arrangement showcases a modern twist with a slightly asymmetrical design, featuring a monochromatic palette of vibrant pinks and deep reds, beautifully complemented by the marbled vases.

Carnations provide the perfect pop of color in this textural bouquet. Credit: Lennart Weibull

PHOTO BY HANNAH LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY; FLORAL DESIGN BY PHLOX EVENTS

And what a stunning bouquet of ranunculus,

orchids and CARNATIONS!

The lacey carnations take centerstage

in their bi-colored perfection.

FLORAL DESIGN BY RUNNING WILD FLORALS

I now have a genuine appreciation for carnations and won’t hesitate to use them in arrangements going forward. When chosen in the right colors and arranged with intention, they are versatile, budget-friendly, resilient and truly beautiful.

So, if you, like me, have been a flower snob… consider this your invitation to reconsider the carnation. It deserves a second look.