Carnations are one of the longest lasting flowers, and in the proper conditions can last up to 2-3 weeks. The scientific name for the carnation flower is “Dianthus caryophyllus”. In Greek, dios means Zeus or God and anthos means flower. So the literal translation is “flower of the gods” or “heavenly flower.” They were revered in Ancient Greece., and the same is true for the Ancient Romans.
These two cultures were the first to cultivate the flower over 2,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest cultivated flowers in the world. They also wore carnations as ceremonial garlands and used them as decorations in many coronations (hence, where the name “carnation” comes from.)
Even though you can find carnations in nearly every color of the rainbow, it wasn’t always this way. In fact, their natural colors are pinkish purples. Shades of white, yellow, orange, red, and green were created through selective breeding. Deep blues and purples were created through genetic engineering.
Carnations are often used as an edible decoration/garnish on salads, cakes, and other desserts. On top of that, breweries, distilleries, and wineries also sometimes use carnations as a flavoring agent.
