Carnation Meaning and Why It's the Official Mother's Day Flower

Flowers are a common Mother's Day gift, but did you know there's an official Mother's Day flower? It turns out that carnations are historically and traditionally known as the flower for celebrating moms.

While you might prefer roses, hydrangeas, or tulips to present to your mom, there's a history behind the connection between carnations and Mother's Day. We spoke with a florist to learn why carnations are the official flower for mothers, their meaning, and how to care for them.

History of Carnations and Mother's Day

While mothers have been honored and celebrated since ancient Greek and Roman times, in the United States, Mother's Day only became an official holiday in the early 1900s. The significance of carnations and Mother's Day goes back to Anna Jarvis and the origins of Mother's Day.

Jarvis and her mother were known to have a white carnation garden at their home in Philadelphia. In honor of her late mother, "she distributed 500 carnations at the first official [Mother's Day] service because they were her mother's favorite flower," florist Rita Dancyger explains.

The West Virginia church where that first service was held continued the tradition by passing out carnations annually for mothers. Nearby neighborhoods and churches also began this tradition; thus, carnations became associated with Mother's Day.

What Do Carnations Symbolize?

The carnation generally symbolizes love, specifically a mother's eternal love for children. Carnations also denote beauty, and Jarvis has said they "typify some of the virtues of motherhood…Its whiteness is to symbolize the truth, purity, and broad-charity of mother love; its fragrance, her memory, and her prayers."

Color Symbolism

Though white carnations were the ones that Anna Jarvis initially distributed on the first Mother's Day celebration (and what her mother grew in their garden), over time, they came to symbolize mothers who have passed away. People sometimes leave white carnations at their mother's grave.

In contrast, red or pink carnations signify living mothers. It's believed that the colorful petals represent a beating heart and a mother's love. "Historically, women wore a white carnation to honor a mother who passed away and a pink carnation to honor a mother still living," Dancyger says.

Here are a few other meanings for carnation colors:

• Red means deep love and admiration.
• White embodies purity and good luck.
• Yellow symbolizes friendship.
• Pink represents appreciation for a mother's love.
• Purple signifies adventure.

Carnation Popularity

Even though carnations have a special meaning, they often get a bad "rap." It may be because they're not as flashy as roses or orchids, plus many think of carnations as "cheap" flowers.

"I think carnations have a poor reputation because they are a relatively inexpensive flower, and they are often associated [with] being a 'filler flower,'" Dancyger explains. "However, carnations have some qualities that make them a very useful flower: They are long-lasting, they don't cost too much, and they come in a wide variety of colors."

So don't feel too bad for the flower just yet. Dancyger believes that the carnation's reputation might be changing thanks to varieties that come in "antique" hues.

"Brides tend to use them more because [they] have a romantic or Victorian look," Dancyger says. "I think it's up to florists to create beautiful arrangements with the best carnation varieties. Some people don't even know carnations are being used when top-of-the-line varietals are featured in arrangements."

How to Care for Carnation Bouquets

If you decide to gift carnations for Mother's Day, the good thing is they are long-lasting if cared for properly, lasting about two to three weeks. Depending on whether your fresh flowers arrive as a wrapped bouquet or arranged in a vase, here's how to best care for cut carnations.

1. If carnations are pre-arranged in a vase, don't change the water or cut the stems until two or three days after receiving them.
2. "If you receive a wrapped or hand-tied bouquet, cut the stems at a 45-degree angle before putting them in water," Dancyger recommends. "This will help the flowers absorb water rather than sitting flat on the bottom of the vase. Re-cut the stems about half an inch or so and change the water every two to three days."
3. Change the water every couple of days to avoid bacteria growth in the water.