Purple Carnation Meaning

Purple carnations are not at all about capriciousness and being whimsy – although these depictions are often attached to it.

Purple is the best hue of carnation to give a friend that you find unpredictable or impulsive. Thus giving out purple carnation may also mean as a friendly reminder to tone down hasty or reckless behavior. Just like yellow carnations (which means rejection), purple carnations also signify repulsion, dislike or antipathy.

On other occasions, the purple carnation isn’t all that bad.  If you’re apologizing to someone, a bouquet of these flowers will indicate that you’ve had a change of heart and ready to patch up your differences. Of course, if you’re giving it to someone whose favorite color is purple, then you can expect a lot of praises.  With the varieties of purple carnations, you’re sure to pick just the right hue that your friend loves.  This flower may also be the perfect present for someone you find witty - its capriciousness or unpredictability in the positive light.

• Name:  Purple Carnation
• Color:  Purple carnations come in different shades of purple - from a lilac shade to violet blossom.
• Shape:  Carnations are spherically shaped from atop. But on the sides when lifted up on the level of the eye, it looks more like ruffled pompoms with ragged edges.
• Fact: Carnation is one of oldest cultivated flowering plant dating back as early as 2,000 years ago. Depending on the variety, carnations grow from 1 foot up to 3 feet and have a unique spicy scent that many find it pleasant.
• Poisonous:  The flower does not pose any danger to the body but its leaves may contain low level of toxicity on it.
• Number of Petals:  The purple carnation can have at least five petals and 40 petals at the most.
• Victorian Interpretation:  Back in the Victorian times, the language of flowers was born.  Although carnation basically symbolizes love and appreciation, purple carnation’s meaning is quite different because it signifies whimsical and may be even capriciousness.
• Blossom Time:  Purple carnations begin to blossom early in June and fully blooms just few weeks after.  Purple carnations continue to bloom for eight weeks. Generally, carnation plant lives from 18 to 20 months – enough to accommodate two blooming season.

Superstitions: 

Many of the superstitions around carnations revolve around other colors like red, pink and white.  However, purple carnations are deemed as the flowers of the dead mostly because of its color.  Just like yellow carnations, purple carnations are not paired with any other colors of carnations mainly because they mean something negative.

• The Shape:  Carnations have a spherical form especially when they’re in full bloom.  You’ll have yourself little pompoms of purple with the purple carnation with all its ruffles of scalloped petals.
• Petals:  The petals of a purple carnation can look very delicate especially if you get them in a lighter tone like lilac.  All bunched up together on the stem, the petals are ruffled.
• Numerology:  Purple carnations are unpredictability personified.  5 is the perfect number of this flower because it also means impulsiveness.  But with Mercury as its symbol, it also relates to liveliness and quick thinking.  Number 5 means adventure and a constructive use for freedom.
• Color:  Purple carnations basically symbolize capriciousness, whimsy and unpredictability.  Lighter purple hue of carnation usually comes out with a more positive meaning but it can spring off a more negative symbol as the shade of purple gets darker.

Herbalism and Medicine:

The ancient Aztecs used to boil purple carnation petals and used it for common ailments like headache and dizziness. And with its spicy yet sweet scent, it can relieve stress as well as chest congestion.