This is the second instalment of our two-part Roses vs. Carnations Valentine’s Day special. After Sean eloquently shared his love for roses earlier this week, Erin barges in with the claim that roses are elitist and carnations are the flower of the people. Her focus is Dianthus caryophyllus, a cut-flower relative of some familiar garden flowers like pinks. She takes us back to the Carnation Revolution and other people’s uprisings in which carnations became important symbols, tells us what the name “pink” has to do with dianthus’ ruffled petals, and explores carnations’ aromatic uses. When Erin puts Sean on the spot to describe the science behind why putting food colouring in a carnation’s water source will dye it, he pulls it off admirably and gives us some bonus facts about mineral buildup on tap water-fed houseplants. 

The episode gathers steam with school carnation sales at Valentine’s Day (awkward), Mother’s Day symbology (touching), and the Vicorian language of flowers (not Erin’s favourite thing). Then it winds down with carnation care both in the garden and as cut flowers. 

Are you ready to join Carnation Nation? Or have roses won your heart? Cast your vote by tagging us on social media and using the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. 

Fact Check

We promised to find out which was named first: pinking shears (which cut saw-toothed edges in fabric) or garden pinks (which have petals with saw-toothed edges). The answer is not clear-cut, but we highly recommend the Online Etymology Dictionary’s interesting entry about it: https://www.etymonline.com/word/pink 

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Credits

Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin

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Citations

Carnations overview

Dianthus caryophyllus “Vienna Mischung.” (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved February 6, 2025, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=z910

Carnations’ Caryophyllaceae relatives 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1999, May 4). Caryophyllaceae | Description, Taxonomy, Genera, & Species. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/Caryophyllaceae

 Growing carnations

NC State Extension. (n.d.). Dianthus caryophyllus. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved February 6, 2025, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dianthus-caryophyllus/

Caring for your carnation bouquet

Plant Addicts. (2023, April 5). Cut Carnation Flower Care | Plant Addicts. https://plantaddicts.com/cut-carnation-flower-care/?srsltid=AfmBOoomoX8SAtbDhtMp6O2aJ9c0bqjVF7i2Mxq12NotQoMiF1zWtRa-

Carnations Flower Care. (n.d.). Farmgirl Flowers. Retrieved February 6, 2025, from https://farmgirlflowers.com/care/care-by-flower-type/carnations?srsltid=AfmBOoqvVyDnu1wEwiRoqpfa9sYsja3keUGZ6K8yqnNayTL4MsfB6k1Y



Timestamps

1:00 Intro

Erin’s Plant: Carnations

1:38 Dianthus caryophyllus and Family

3:37 Which Came First, the Pink or the Shears?

4:35 Carnation Etymology

6:15 How to Describe a Carnation

9:03 Transgenic Cultivars

11:18 A Symbol of the People

13:32 Aromatic Uses 

15:15 The Science of Colouring Carnations with Food Dye

17:46 Mineral Buildup on Houseplants

20:06 Carnations’ Mild Toxicity

20:58 Valentine’s Day School Carnation Sales

22:48 The Motherhood Connection

22:30 The Victorian Language of Flowers

25:42 Growing Carnations at Home

29:59 Cover your Bare Soil!

32:09 Insects Hosted by Carnations

33:36 Caring for your Carnation Bouquet

40:13 Points per Pun

40:51 Contact Us and Outro