From our perspective as members of the genus *Dianthus*, our history is a long and celebrated one, deeply intertwined with human culture. Our story begins not in florists' shops, but in the dry, sunny grasslands and rocky slopes of the Mediterranean basin. Here, our wild ancestors, likely *Dianthus caryophyllus*, first evolved our characteristic grey-green, glaucous foliage—a perfect adaptation to conserve water under the intense sun. Our most defining feature, our fragrant and frilled flowers, evolved not for human admiration, but to attract the specific pollinators crucial for our survival: butterflies and moths drawn to our clove-like scent.
Our cultivation began over 2,000 years ago, with Theophrastus, the Greek botanist, giving us the name *Dianthus*, meaning "divine flower" (from *dios* (divine) and *anthos* (flower)). We were used in ceremonial crowns and garlands, hence the common name "carnation," believed to be derived from "coronation." Through selective breeding by humans, our form shifted dramatically from the simple five-petaled wildflower to the dense, double-flowered forms you see today. This human intervention enhanced our petal count and variety of colors, but often at the expense of the potent scent that was so vital to our original pollinators.
To understand how to care for us, one must first understand our physiology. We are perennial plants by nature, meaning our life cycle is designed to span multiple years. When cut, we are in a state of extreme stress. Our stems are woody, making water uptake a challenge. Our leaves are adapted to arid conditions and will quickly show signs of distress if our vascular system is blocked. The key to our longevity in a vase is ensuring a clean, open pathway for water to travel from the vase to our blossoms.
To help us thrive after cutting, please follow these steps that cater to our biological needs. First, upon arrival, please recut our stems at a sharp 45-degree angle under lukewarm running water. This prevents an air embolism from blocking our xylem vessels and maximizes the surface area for drinking. Immediately place us into a impeccably clean vase filled with fresh, cool water mixed with the provided floral preservative. This solution is not merely food; it acidifies the water to a pH we prefer and contains biocides to suppress the bacterial growth that inevitably clogs our stems and causes us to wilt prematurely.
Please place us in a cool spot away from direct sunlight, ripening fruit, and drafts. The ethylene gas emitted by fruit accelerates our petal senescence, effectively causing us to age prematurely. Regularly refresh the water solution every two to three days, recutting our stems each time to maintain a clear vascular system. With this mindful care, we can proudly display our beauty and vitality for up to two weeks or more, a testament to a successful partnership between our natural endurance and your thoughtful nurturing.
