Most of us are aware of the sweet tradition of expressing our feelings or support for someone through the beauty of flowers. However as with mostly anything else the sophistication of the Victorian era cuts both ways. Expressing disdain or outright threatening their life with a nice floral arrangement will never be this nefariously subtle or spectacularly passive-aggressive as this. So whether you are a super-villain with a penchant for theatrics or just want to make an underhanded jab at someone – This list is for you.
We’ll start with the ad hominem flowers moving toward the outright death threats. And yes, nothing says “Bond villain” quite like threatening someone’s life by sending them a beautiful pink flower. The Fantastic Gardeners do not carry any responsibility for any hurt feelings resulting from this article. We wrote this for the sake of curiosity. Please don’t give anyone poisonous bouquets.
Candytuft
The first one is probably the mildest of the bunch. If you want to tell someone that you couldn’t care less about them, gift them a candytuft. It’s a symbol of indifference. Then again, it’s rather contradictory, since it shows more care than giving them nothing.
Buttercup
Symbolising childishness, buttercups are ideal for that one friend who still makes fart jokes on every occasion by blowing raspberries. They’ll probably call you something hom*ophobic as a result.
Sunflower
Sunflowers became a symbol of false riches when Spanish explorers first reached the Americas and thought they were actually made of gold. In the Victorian era they were also given to people to let them know they are haughty and should check themselves. Do what you must with them.
Yellow Carnation
Moving on to the romantic side of things. Yellow Carnations can both be used to express disappointment and/or rejection. If you are being courted by a hopeless romantic nothing will give them a better reason to write a tear-jerking ballad than a bouquet of these puffy yellow flowers. The song is practically writing itself.
Yellow Rose
Whether you are wishing someone to be cheated on or confessing it to them in a way that isn’t really a confession if the other isn’t proficient in flower language – Yellow Roses are your choice.
Cyclamen
We don’t know why anyone would drop subtle hints about something like this, but if you wish to cut off the old ball and chain in a tactful matter, cyclamens mean exactly that. They are a symbol for separation and the floral equivalent of “Let’s just be friends”.
Butterfly Weed
However, if you wish to be more aggressive about it and outright say “Get out of my face!” you will have to get them Butterfly Weed. Make sure to look suitably angry and deliver the flower with a white knuckle grip.
Peonies
The most passive-aggressive of them all. You know the gentle hot pink flowers. When given they are a sign of anger. This sounds like something an outrageously religious aunt would give you for your birthday for being an atheist.
Orange Lilies
We are finally at the hardcore stretch of the list. Nothing says “hatred” like the bright fiery orange of the lilies. It’s basically the equivalent of telling someone “I hope you get mauled by a tiger.”
Basil
What goes great on spaghetti but means you hate someone so much you equate them to unbearable stench? Basil. Yep. This popular herb’s smell and the taste was so universally disliked by Victorian society that they started using it as an insult in bouquet form.
Petunia
Petunia
Another grandmotherly flower seething with passive-aggressive resentment. We don’t know what this says when you name your child after it.
Tansy
These flowers are the most gentlemanly way to declare war on your enemies. We just hope when the inevitable robot apocalypse comes about they will use this gesture. It will be an awesome cover for the history textbooks.
Black Rose
Hard to find, a favourite of goth kids worldwide, and the perfect way to say “You are dead to me” to someone you do not particularly care about.
Rhododendron
These last two basically mean the same in different degrees. Okay maybe to the same degree but this one is unimaginably harder to take seriously than the last one since it’s a bush with pretty pink flowers. Giving someone rhododendron flowers means you are out to get them.
Monkshood
The cream of the resentment crop. Aconite or monkshood universally known for being highly poisonous and delivering an agonising death is the most straightforward way to tell someone to watch their back and never to eat anything that didn’t come from a sealed container.
Additional symbolism
If you want to be extra sneaky with your bouquet insult you can use flowers with positive meanings adding a twist to them. Depending on how the ribbon has been tied, the meaning of the “present” can apply either to the giver, if the ribbon is tied to the left, or the recipient – if it’s on the right. If the flowers are given upside-down they have the opposite meaning of what they usually represent.
Allow me to dive into the intriguing realm of floral language, where the subtle nuances of flowers become a canvas for expressing emotions, whether it be love, disdain, or even a veiled threat. I'm no stranger to the language of flowers, having delved deep into the historical and cultural aspects that underpin this fascinating form of communication.
The article you provided explores the Victorian tradition of using flowers to convey sentiments, both positive and negative. Drawing from my extensive knowledge, let's dissect the concepts used in this floral discourse:
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Candytuft:
- Symbol of indifference, conveying the message of not caring about someone.
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Buttercup:
- Represents childishness and is ideal for someone who exhibits juvenile behavior.
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Sunflower:
- Symbolizes false riches, signaling haughtiness and a need for self-reflection.
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Yellow Carnation:
- Expresses disappointment and rejection, a subtle way to convey a lack of interest.
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Yellow Rose:
- Can be used to wish ill on someone, particularly related to romantic betrayal.
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Cyclamen:
- Symbolizes separation, suggesting a desire to end a relationship in a tactful manner.
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Butterfly Weed:
- An aggressive choice, indicating a clear message of "Get out of my face!"
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Peonies:
- The gentle hot pink flowers symbolize anger, making them a passive-aggressive choice.
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Orange Lilies:
- Represents intense hatred, akin to wishing harm upon someone.
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Basil:
- Used as an insult in bouquet form, associating the recipient with an unbearable stench.
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Petunia:
- A grandmotherly flower with passive-aggressive resentment, though the specific meaning isn't clarified.
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Tansy:
- Gentlemanly flowers that symbolize declaring war on enemies.
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Black Rose:
- A rare and gothic choice, symbolizing that someone is dead to the giver.
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Rhododendron:
- Giving these flowers means you are out to get someone, despite the seemingly innocuous appearance.
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Monkshood:
- Highly poisonous, this flower is a straightforward way to tell someone to watch their back, even implying harm.
In addition to these explicit flower meanings, the article introduces the concept of additional symbolism through the arrangement and presentation of flowers:
- The way the ribbon is tied can alter the meaning of the bouquet.
- Depending on the orientation of the flowers, upside-down arrangements may convey the opposite meaning of their traditional symbolism.
So, whether you're subtly expressing disdain or orchestrating a floral symphony of passive-aggression, the language of flowers provides a rich tapestry of emotions and intentions.
