Love is a beautiful feeling, but it’s not always easy. Sometimes, love is considered taboo or forbidden, which can make the experience even more intense.
Flowers have been used for centuries to express emotions, and there are certain flowers that represent forbidden love. In this article, we will explore 10 different flowers that are associated with forbidden love and the symbolism behind them.
Gardenia
Gardenias are elegant and fragrant flowers that have been associated with love, particularly forbidden or secret love, for centuries.
The gardenia flower is often used to convey messages of love and devotion, but it can also symbolize the pain and heartache that can come with forbidden love.
The flower’s purity and beauty make it a fitting symbol for the intense emotions that can arise from a love that is forbidden or taboo. In many cultures, gardenias are given as gifts to express hidden or unspoken desires, making them a popular flower for secret admirers or illicit lovers.
The gardenia’s white petals, often contrasted with dark green foliage, also represent the light and dark aspects of love, further emphasizing the complexity of forbidden love.
Overall, the gardenia is a poignant and powerful symbol of the intense emotions and struggles that can accompany forbidden love.
Black Tulip
The black tulip is a unique and rare flower that represents forbidden love. Its dark color symbolizes mystery, elegance, and sophistication, while its forbidden nature adds a sense of secrecy and taboo.
In the language of flowers, the black tulip represents a love that is forbidden, taboo, or unattainable, often associated with dark and dramatic romance.
It is the flower that speaks of a love that is hidden or kept secret, a love that may be forbidden by social or cultural norms, or a love that is unrequited or impossible.
The black tulip’s association with forbidden love can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire, where it was believed that the flower possessed magical powers and was a symbol of undying love.
It was also associated with the legend of a prince who fell in love with a maiden but was forbidden to marry her, and as a result, he committed suicide. It is said that from the prince’s blood grew a black tulip, representing his forbidden love.
The black tulip’s association with forbidden love continues to this day, and it is often used as a symbol in literature, poetry, and art to depict the tragedy of a love that is unattainable or forbidden.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is a flowering plant that is often associated with forbidden love due to its symbolism of bonds that cannot be broken. Its long, twisting vines represent the entwined nature of love and the difficulty of untangling oneself from its grasp.
The sweet fragrance of the honeysuckle flower is said to intoxicate and seduce, drawing in those who come near.
In Greek mythology, honeysuckle is associated with the story of Daphne and Apollo, where Daphne was transformed into a honeysuckle bush to escape Apollo’s unwanted advances.
In the language of flowers, honeysuckle represents the idea of devoted love, despite its forbidden or impossible nature.
It is a reminder that love can be both beautiful and dangerous, and that the heart does not always follow the rules.
Blue Violet
Blue violet is a flower that has been associated with forbidden love, as it represents faithfulness, loyalty, and devotion. In Greek mythology, violets were believed to have sprung from the blood of Aphrodite’s lover, Adonis, after he was killed by a wild boar.
The goddess of love and beauty was said to have been so overwhelmed with grief that her tears mingled with the blood and gave rise to the first violets.
In the language of flowers, blue violets symbolize faithfulness, devotion, and deep loyalty. They are often used to represent a secret or forbidden love, as their delicate beauty and understated elegance suggest an unspoken longing that cannot be fully expressed.
For centuries, poets and writers have used the blue violet as a metaphor for unrequited or forbidden love.
Shakespeare famously wrote, “I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.”
These lines, from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, describe a place where violets grow wild and the air is heavy with the scent of blooming flowers, evoking the sense of a forbidden love that is both wild and alluring.
In many cultures, the blue violet is also associated with secrecy and discretion, as its small size and understated beauty make it easy to overlook. This quality has made it a popular choice for lovers who wish to express their feelings in a subtle and discreet way, without drawing too much attention to themselves.
Overall, the blue violet is a flower that embodies the beauty and complexity of forbidden love, and its delicate, ethereal nature makes it a symbol of longing, devotion, and unrequited desire.
Aconite
Aconite, also known as monkshood or wolfsbane, is a flower that symbolizes forbidden love due to its reputation as a poisonous and deadly plant.
In ancient Greek mythology, the goddess Hecate used aconite to create a love potion that made the person who drank it fall in love with someone who was forbidden to them.
The dangerous reputation of aconite stems from the fact that it contains a potent toxin called aconitine. Ingestion of aconite can cause paralysis, heart failure, and death. As such, aconite is often associated with danger, mystery, and secrecy, all of which are common themes in stories of forbidden love.
Despite its dangerous reputation, aconite has also been used for medicinal purposes in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine.
When used in small doses and under the guidance of a trained practitioner, aconite can have therapeutic effects on the nervous system and help alleviate pain.
In the language of flowers, aconite can represent danger, caution, and misanthropy, as well as love that is forbidden, passionate, and intense. The black and blue hues of the flower also add to its symbolism of mystery and secrecy.
Bluebells
Bluebell is a delicate and charming flower that has been traditionally associated with secrecy and discretion, which can also be interpreted as a representation of forbidden love.
The bluebell is native to the woodlands of Europe and the British Isles and is considered to be a symbol of constancy and everlasting love, making it a perfect choice for couples who are in love but cannot be together.
In some cultures, bluebells are believed to be enchanted flowers that are capable of attracting the attention of fairies and other magical beings.
This mystical association adds a sense of otherworldliness to the flower and can further emphasize the notion of forbidden love, as it is often associated with tales of star-crossed lovers and mystical romance.
The bluebell’s delicate and subtle appearance also adds to its symbolism of forbidden love. The flower’s soft, curved petals and gentle color give it an air of vulnerability and fragility, which can represent the delicate nature of a forbidden love affair.
The bluebell’s beauty and allure make it an attractive choice for those seeking to express their feelings of love and longing, even if those feelings must remain unspoken or unfulfilled.
Overall, the bluebell’s association with secrecy, constancy, and enchantment makes it a meaningful and poignant symbol of forbidden love.
Oleander
Oleander is a beautiful flowering shrub that produces delicate, fragrant flowers. Despite its beauty, it is one of the most poisonous plants in the world, containing toxins that can cause serious harm if ingested.
This duality of beauty and danger makes it a flower that is often associated with forbidden love.
In Greek mythology, oleander was believed to have been created by the god of love, Eros, to symbolize the heartbreak that ensued when love was forbidden. The flowers of the oleander plant were said to represent the tears of lovers who were forced to part ways.
In many cultures, oleander is seen as a flower of death, and is often used in funeral arrangements. In some parts of the world, the giving of oleander flowers is seen as a sign of ill will, and is forbidden.
Despite its dangerous reputation, oleander is also valued for its medicinal properties, and is used to treat a variety of ailments, including heart conditions and skin disorders.
Overall, oleander is a flower that represents the complex and sometimes dangerous nature of forbidden love, and the risks and consequences that come with pursuing it.
Purple Hyacinth
Purple hyacinth is a flower that represents forbidden love because of its association with the Greek mythological figure, Hyacinthus. According to the myth, Apollo, the god of the sun, fell in love with Hyacinthus, a mortal man.
However, their love was forbidden by the gods, and tragedy struck when Hyacinthus was accidentally killed by Apollo while they were playing a game of discus. From the blood of Hyacinthus, Apollo created a flower, which came to be known as the hyacinth.
Since then, the purple hyacinth has been associated with the theme of forbidden love, as it symbolizes the tragedy and heartbreak that can result from loving someone who is not allowed or possible to love.
The flower is also believed to represent deep regret, sorrow, and longing, which are often experienced in situations of forbidden love.
In addition to its association with the myth of Hyacinthus, the purple hyacinth has also been used in literature and art to symbolize forbidden love.
It is a popular flower to include in bouquets or arrangements for those who are experiencing the pain of unrequited love or a love that is not accepted by society or other factors.
Yellow Chrysanthemum
Yellow chrysanthemums are a flower that represents forbidden love. This flower symbolizes a love that cannot be openly expressed or pursued, often due to societal or cultural constraints.
In some cultures, yellow chrysanthemums are associated with death and are often used in funerals. However, in the context of forbidden love, they represent the death of the hopes and dreams of a love that cannot be fulfilled.
The color yellow is often associated with friendship and happiness, but when it comes to chrysanthemums, it can also represent rejection and disappointment. Yellow chrysanthemums can convey a sense of sorrow and regret for a love that can never be.
This flower has been featured in many works of literature and art as a symbol of forbidden love. It is often given as a gift to express hidden or unrequited love or to commemorate a love that has been lost or cannot be pursued.
The delicate beauty of the yellow chrysanthemum can also represent the fragility of a forbidden love, which may be easily destroyed by external factors beyond one’s control.
Overall, the yellow chrysanthemum is a poignant and meaningful flower that represents the pain and longing associated with forbidden love. Its beauty and symbolism serve as a reminder of the complexities of love and the obstacles that may stand in the way of its fulfillment.
Purple Lilac
Purple lilacs are flowers that have long been associated with forbidden love. These flowers have a unique color that sets them apart from other lilacs, and their deep hue is said to symbolize the intensity and passion of forbidden love.
In Greek mythology, the god Pan fell in love with the nymph Syringa, who turned herself into a lilac tree to escape his advances. The story is often cited as a reference to forbidden love, as the union between a god and a mortal was considered taboo.
Purple lilacs have also been used to represent the secrecy and hidden nature of forbidden love.
In the Victorian era, when expressing emotions was often considered inappropriate, the giving of flowers was a common way to convey feelings without speaking them aloud. The purple lilac was often given in secret to convey the message of forbidden love.
The purple lilac is also associated with the concept of unrequited love, where one person’s feelings are not reciprocated by the other. The flower’s beauty and fragrance may represent the hope that the love will one day be returned, but the reality of the situation is that it may remain unfulfilled.
Overall, the purple lilac is a flower that represents the intense emotions and hidden nature of forbidden love, as well as the pain and longing that can come with unrequited love.
My name is Daniel Elrod, and I have been houseplant love ever since I was 17. I love how much joy they bring to any room in the home. I’ve always been amazed at how a few pots of flowing leaves can turn a drab and sterile office into an inviting place where people love to work at.
