Beyond the bright color, smell, and beauty of all the flowers we love, there lies a different type of “language” that has many dark meanings such as melancholy, betrayal, and sorrow. You may even be sending a “sinister message” to the person receiving the flowers based on the type of flower chosen!
However, there is no reason to panic if your favorite flower falls into “death and destruction.” There are many flowers whose meanings change with use.
For instance, although I fill my garden with lots of bright pink petunias each summer, it doesn’t mean there is any anger in my heart; I just love feeding the hummingbirds!
Floriography: The Language Of Flowers
Floriography is the practice of interpreting and conveying messages via flowers. Ancient cultures gave rise to floriography, and it gained popularity in the 1800s when society was more formal and less accepting of expressing emotions verbally.
During the Victorian period, most women owned a copy of Charlotte de la Tour’s book, “Le Langage des Fleurs,” (The Language of Flowers), published in 1809. This popular book helped many women to understand what different flowers symbolised and their meaning.
Each of the many different types of flowers has a specific colour and shape that will have a different meaning and create an emotion. For instance, when someone gives you a red rose, that flower will mean deep love, but if they give you a yellow rose, it means friendship or happiness.
With this floral language, you can express feelings subtly and through beautiful flowers, such as secretly expressing your love to someone or letting them know that you do not like them!
Flowers Carry Different Meanings In Different Contexts
It’s important to understand that the meaning of flowers can vary greatly from one culture to another, or even from one country to another within a culture.
For example, I think of white lilies as representing purity and new beginnings. But in another culture, white lilies are associated with burials and mourning.
In many ways, the language of flowers is a reflection of both your individual experiences and cultural heritage. While some flowers may have negative meanings in certain cultures, they are still incredibly beautiful!
Now let’s look at some of the negative meanings of those same flowers; however, remember that there is more to beauty than just the appearance of a flower!
Flowers Of Betrayal And Dishonesty
Black Dahlia
The dark and velvety petals of Black Dahlia have an unmistakable air of melancholy & mystery. They are often used as a representation of negative experiences (evil, betrayal, and the like).
Even though Black Dahlia is a beautiful flower, unfortunately it represents many things related to sadness & tragedy, such as the 1947 murder of Betty Short (aka The Black Dahlia) in Los Angeles, CA, which we consider one of the most tragic murders in American history.
When people hear the name “Black Dahlia,” they likely think of murder and evil, which are the ideas and feelings associated with this flower.
Black Rose
While the black rose is a stunningly beautiful flower, it carries many negative associations due to its strong visual effect. The black rose is a frequent motif found in all forms of Gothic aesthetic. The black rose can represent hate or vengeance.
As a result, it is often viewed as a symbol of sorrow or death. Often, it is considered to represent closure or end of something important. Different cultures have defined a black rose as a representation of broken relationships, an end of a period, and despair/hopelessness in their life.
Flowers Of Anger And Resentment
Dark Red Rose
Roses are typically thought of as symbols of love, passion, romance etc. but they may also be seen as expressing something other than love or desire in certain circumstances.
In particular situations rose may represent feelings like anger, jealousy and betrayal especially when given to someone after an unresolved conflict and/or drama.
Red roses that are darker in hue invoke feelings of extreme (good/bad) elements of love, including possessiveness and obsessiveness, but also the pain and sorrow involved in unrequited love.
The meanings associated with red roses can change due to the circumstances surrounding giving them. Select rose color that represents your true feelings!
Red Tulips
While most people associate the red tulip with a cheerful and vibrant appearance, there are also a number of ways in which the red tulip could have bad connotations.
Despite their eye-catching and lively color, many still view the bright hues of red tulips as expressing heightened emotional intensity and turbulent emotions (i.e., angry/aggressive feelings) within oneself. The intense hue of red represents the aspect of wrathfulness and confrontation in both passion and desire.
In some cases, a person may interpret an arrangement of red tulips as a sign that there may be unresolved tensions or conflicts within that individual.
Petunias
Despite having a bright, cheerful appearance and vibrant, colorful blooms overflowing from pots and hanging baskets, Petunias can also provide some people with negative associations.
In some applications, Petunias are used to symbolize feelings of anger or disappointment; therefore, in the flower language, they express feelings of resentment and problems associated with giving petunias as a gift to someone (“they are out to hurt you”).
Additionally, Petunia is often used as an insult to someone.
Flowers Of Sadness And Loss
Lily Of The Valley
In some cultures, the white bell-shaped flower can be considered to be a good omen however, the opposite is true, it can equally represent sorrow.
The beauty of the flower does not hide its deep connection to sorrow and sadness through its association with “sadness” themes. All elements of this delicate flower embody all negative meanings of feelings such as “sadness”, “pain” and “loss”.
The lily of the valley has commonly been viewed in Christian contexts as being representative of mourning or tears shed for the dead.
Yellow Carnations
Yellow carnations are commonly associated with negative and complex meanings such as rejection, disdain and disappointment.
On the other hand, yellow carnations provide a very bright symbolic value compared to most other flowers that have generally positive associations.
Most people feel that yellow carnations are a symbol of emotional distance or unfulfillment; therefore, they can signify that you reject someone or have not met your expectations.
If you want to break up with someone or express your dislike for them use yellow carnations!
Cyclamen
This flower has a colorful appearance but its meaning represents the emotions of loss through break-ups and sadness when losing or parting from someone you have loved, so if ever received this flower from someone who loves you be cautious.
This flower is a symbol of the end of a relationship due to a breakup or someone moving away, representing sadness and loss of someone dear to you due to the end of that relationship.
The delicate petals of this flower are symbolic of the emotional pain one experiences at goodbye.
Yellow Hyacinth
The bright shiny yellow color has a bright happy appearance but has a deeper connection to what’s happening in a person’s emotional state, such as the feelings of jealousy to sadness and frustration.
When we think of bright yellow as indicating happiness and life, there is a different underlying meaning when applied to the hyacinth. The yellow of a hyacinth reflects unhappy, unsatisfied feelings about yourself in your inner self.
Flowers Of Warning And Caution
Begonias
Culturally, the Begonia flower means a lot of different things. In many cultures, the Begonia means warning or negative presage.
In China, many believe that giving people Begonias as gifts indicates that you have warned them about a future unfavourable event.
On the other hand, in Japan, the Begonia is used as an amulet for good financial fortune. From these two examples, we can see that the viewpoint of a flower’s meaning is determined Not only by culture but also by the types of circumstances that are associated with the flower ,such as in a business context.
Aconite
Monk’s Hood (Aconitum) (Wolfsbane): This plant has been branded with many dark, negative connotations, as well as being identified as a very toxic plant.
Although the flower is striking in appearance, its most notable characteristic is that it contains potent and highly toxic alkaloids, and because of this it is often thought of as a symbol of evil and poison.
Historically and in folklore, Monk’s Hood has always been associated with darker themes, such as witchcraft and betrayal, due to its use in many witches’ spells and hexes.
In addition to its connections to witchcraft and treachery, this gorgeous purple flower is often seen as a symbol of arrogance and pride. And who doesn’t love purple flowers? They are highly attractive to bees!
Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed isn’t common, and there’s a reason! Butterfly weed carries a warning message about wanting to be alone.
The bright orange and yellow flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators but also send a warning to potential intruders or unwanted visitors!
So if you wish to say “Leave me alone,” send your friend some butterfly weed instead!
Rhododendron
Colorful and incredibly bright blooms often represent a form of warning and danger through their beauty; however, because of their toxic properties, there is also a cautionary element to this flower.
For the flower’s actual meaning, you must interpret it in relation to other flowers or plants that are similar in appearance but are not toxic.
Therefore, even though the rhododendron may appear to be beautiful, when you see a rhododendron (in view of the previous explanation), you need to exercise caution.
Flowers Of Negative Emotions
Orange Lily
Orange lilies are a flower with a lot of negative symbolism in the language of flowers. They represent feelings such as hatred, pride, and contempt.
In addition, orange lilies represent the end of a relationship and the emotion of painful endings associated with an ending. Additionally, orange lilies can symbolize humiliation, so it would be a really bad flower to receive after you’ve broken up.
Also keep in mind there are a variety of different colored lilies that symbolize different things.
Yellow Chrysanthemums
Yellow Chrysanthemums are interpreted negatively or sad through ‘floriography’ in Japan, based on cultural context and professional work.
In Japan specifically, Yellow Chrysanthemums are seen as a sign of Grief and Mourning, as the flowers are commonly included in arrangements that are presented at funerals to Honour the Deceased.
In the United States, Yellow Chrysanthemums are typically considered a seasonal flower that is used during Fall; they make beautiful decorations on Porches and Patios or as Cut Flowers for bouquets.
Yellow Chrysanthemums are also often perceived as symbols of nightmares, bad luck and misfortune.
Buttercups
While this beautiful and joyous-looking flower may appear to hold a positive meaning based on its looks, it may actually hold an even more profound (and potentially damaging) negative meaning.
The symbol of betrayal and unfaithfulness associated with this flower is certainly not a gift you want to receive from your partner! This flower also represents childish behavior.
Some people interpret the childlike feelings associated with this flower to represent emotion at a very surface (i.e. immature) level of their relationship.
Yellow Rose
Yellow roses carry a multitude of emotions! Although they often stand for friendship and happiness, they can also symbolize some very negative feelings like greed, cowardice, jealousy, etc.
The yellow rose has also been used to communicate cowardice, where the lack of courage can also express commitment issues. Greed is associated with the intense need for riches and/or power and the need to obtain them at all costs!
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are lovely plants that produce beautifully colored flowers that look great when they bloom, but they may also have less than positive connotations.
In Europe, Hydrangeas are often associated with Vanity & arrogance, as large brightly colored flowers tend to emphasize an individual’s appearance, rather than their personality and/or accomplishments.
Therefore, during the Victorian era, ownership of hydrangeas indicated a person’s tendency to boast/bully others.
In floriography (the study of flower meanings), hydrangeas also represent unloved, or spurned lovers. In this case, blue hydrangeas may add a coldness to the meaning of hydrangeas, as they indicate emotional distance or detachment in a romantic relationship.
Sunflowers
The sunflower conveys feelings of warmth, happiness, and goodness but in the language of flowers, it also can have negative connotations such as being pompous, conceited, or having false wealth.
In the 1800’s a person would receive a sunflower if it was believed that person was self-important and egotistical.
A sunflower signifies false wealth; it implies a person may project they are wealthy or successful but are not necessarily so. The flower is not at all composed of gold!