25 Flowers that Symbolize Sadness and Sorrow
Table of Contents
Grief and sadness are some of the most difficult emotions to process. Losing someone or experiencing heartbreak can leave us feeling overwhelmed, lost, and alone.
It can be hard to express these emotions, but many people find solace in flowers. Flowers have a special language of their own, and they can convey messages that are difficult to put into words.
In this article, we’ll explore 25 flowers that symbolize sadness. We associate some of these flowers with mourning, while others have a more subtle connection to grief. From the black rose’s somber elegance to the forget-me-not’s delicate beauty, join us on a floral exploration of sadness.
1. Lily of the Valley
The Lily of the valley is a small, delicate flower that blooms in the spring, releasing a sweet, gentle fragrance that fills the air with beauty and grace. Despite its lovely appearance, the lily of the valley carries an association with sadness and sorrow.
The Christian tradition attributes Lily of the valley to the tears shed by Eve after she was banished from the Garden of Eden. As such, the flower symbolizes the sadness and sorrow of the human condition.
Another explanation is the flower’s appearance. Despite its beauty, the Lily of the valley grows in shaded, secluded areas, giving it a somewhat mournful and melancholic feel. Additionally, the flower’s pure white color symbolizes the purity of mourning, making it a fitting choice for occasions such as funerals and memorials.
The lily of the valley has also been used as a symbol of unrequited love. In medieval times, knights would wear the flower as a symbol of their devotion to a lady who did not return their affection.
2. Chrysanthemum
The Chrysanthemum is a vibrant flower. However, despite its striking appearance, the Chrysanthemum has a long history of being associated with sadness and grief.
One reason for this association is the flower’s use in funeral arrangements and memorials. In many cultures, including Japan and China, the Chrysanthemum symbolizes death and is often used to decorate graves and other mourning rituals.
In fact, in Japan, the Chrysanthemum is the emperor’s symbol and is used to mark the graves of members of the imperial family.
In addition to its use in funerals, the Chrysanthemum’s association with autumn, a time of declining light and warmth, contributes to its melancholic symbolism. The flower’s late blooming season, typically in late fall or early winter, also adds to this sense of sadness and finality.
3. Blue Iris
The Blue Iris is a strikingly beautiful flower with deep blue petals that evoke calm and serenity. The association of the blue iris with various mythological figures adds a sense of otherworldliness and sadness to the flower’s symbolism.
Another reason for Iris’s association with sadness is its use in funeral arrangements and memorials. The flower’s deep blue color, representing the sky and the infinite, symbolizes mourning and the vastness of grief.
In addition, the iris’s tall, graceful stems and delicate petals lend a sense of dignity and solemnity to funeral arrangements, making it a fitting choice for honoring the departed.
Blue Iris is also connected with the Virgin Mary, adding a sense of comfort to the flower’s melancholic symbolism, suggesting that even in times of sadness and loss, there is the possibility of renewal and redemption.
4. Black Rose
The black rose is a flower of great mystery and intrigue, with a dark and sad beauty. The black rose does not occur naturally and is a product of the human intervention.
One possible explanation for the black rose’s association with sadness is its use in literature and art. Authors often use the black rose in literature to symbolize death and mourning. In art, the black rose is often used to represent tragic love stories or to symbolize the passage of time.
Another possible reason for the black rose’s association with sadness is its rarity and exclusivity. Black roses are not common in nature, and as such, they have become a symbol of exclusivity and unattainability.
This sense of unattainability may be seen as a reflection of the sorrow and longing that often accompanies unrequited love or loss.
5. Cyclamen
The Cyclamen blooms in shades of pink, red, and white. The ancient Greeks associated Cyclamen with death and mourning and planted it in cemeteries as a symbol of remembrance.
In addition, the flower’s natural habitat, often in rocky, shaded areas, lends a sense of loneliness.
Cyclamen’s fragile and short-lived nature could be another reason it’s linked to sadness. The flower’s thin petals and stems make it vulnerable to the weather, and it only blooms for a short time, making it feel even more fragile and fleeting.
This feeling of change and changeability may reflect how short life is and the sadness that often comes with time.
6. White Rose
The white rose is a classic symbol of beauty and purity, often used to represent love and new beginnings. However, we can also associate it with sadness and grief.
One possible reason for this association is the flower’s use in funerals and memorials. The white rose’s pure white color may symbolize mourning and purity, making it a popular choice for funerals.
7. Salvia
Salvia, commonly known as sage, is a perennial herb often used in cooking and traditional medicine. Salvia likes to grow in dry, rocky areas, evoking a sense of aridity and desolation.
This sense of desolation may be seen as a reflection of the loneliness and isolation that comes with emotional pain.
Salvia’s use in traditional medicine is also linked to sadness. Salvia is thought to have healing powers in some cultures and is used to treat various illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. Salvia is also linked to wisdom and spirituality.
In ancient Greece, Salvia was popular in religious ceremonies because people thought it could give them wisdom and insight.
8. Snowdrop
The Snowdrop is a delicate and beautiful flower that delivers beautiful blooms in late winter or early spring, often appearing before the snow melts. The Snowdrop’s appearance in the late winter or early spring symbolizes the end of winter and the beginning of a new season.
However, this sense of renewal and growth may be tinged with sadness and loss, as the Snowdrop’s appearance may also signal the end of a period of rest and the beginning of a new cycle of growth.
9. Honeysuckle
The Honeysuckle is a beautiful and fragrant flower beloved for its sweet scent and charming appearance. In addition to its beauty, the flower’s delicate petals and sweet fragrance lend a sense of nostalgia and longing to its symbolism, evoking memories of lost loved ones and past experiences.
Interestingly, in some cultures, the Honeysuckle is also associated with love and devotion. Honeysuckle symbolizes fidelity and devotion and is given as a gift to express deep feelings of love and commitment.
This association with love adds a bittersweet note to the Honeysuckle’s melancholic symbolism, suggesting the possibility of love and connection even in times of sadness and loss but also a chance for loss.
10. Magnolia
Magnolias are beautiful flowering trees revered for their striking beauty and sweet fragrance.
In ancient China, magnolias were often used in funerals and memorials to honor the departed.
Another reason for the magnolia’s association with sadness is its use in literature and art. In literature, magnolia is often used to represent purity, innocence, and beauty. However, in some works of literature, magnolia evokes longing, suggesting that even in moments of beauty and purity, there is a sense of sadness and loss.
Interestingly, magnolia is also associated with strength and perseverance in some cultures. In Japanese culture, for example, magnolia is often used to symbolize strength and resilience in adversity.
This association with strength and resilience adds a hopeful note to the flower’s melancholic symbolism, suggesting the possibility of growth and renewal after a period of pain and suffering.
11. Morning Glory
Morning Glory is a charming and delicate flowering plant loved for its vibrant colors and unique trumpet-shaped blooms. One reason for its association with sadness is the flower’s natural cycle.
Morning Glory blooms open in the morning and close in the afternoon or evening, symbolizing that beauty is temporary. This flower reminds us that happiness can be fleeting and that there’s an inevitability in loss and change.
Another reason for Morning Glory’s association with sadness is its use in traditional medicine. Morning Glory is believed to possess soothing properties in some cultures, so it was a popular choice for melancholics. This association with sedation and sleep suggests an urge to escape sadness.
12. Orchid
Orchids are exotic and stunning flowers renowned for their beauty and elegance. However, despite their gorgeous appearance, orchids also symbolize mourning.
One reason for this association is the flower’s history. In ancient Greece, orchids were associated with death and violence. One of the stories says that Orchis, a beautiful son of a nymph and a satyr, raped a girl and was killed by Dionysius.
His death tore his father apart, and he begged the gods to bring him back. In the end, Orchis was turned into a flower.
Interestingly, in some cultures, orchids are associated with luxury and indulgence. In Victorian England, for example, orchids were highly prized for their rarity and exotic beauty and were often used as a symbol of wealth and sophistication.
This luxury link adds a bittersweet note to the melancholy meaning of the orchid. It shows that even in beautiful and extravagant moments, there is a longing and inability to get what you want but witnessing others enjoying it.
13. Tulip
Tulips are a true representation of beauty, renowned for their vibrant colors and elegant shape. In the 17th century, the Netherlands went through a period of economic prosperity known as the “Tulipmania,” during which tulip bulbs became incredibly valuable commodities.
However, many people fell into financial ruin when the market for tulips collapsed, and the flower came to be associated with greed and materialism.
In some cultures, Tulips are associated with forgiveness and reconciliation. In Turkey, for example, the Tulip symbolizes forgiveness and is often given as a gift to express regret and seek forgiveness.
14. Star of Bethlehem
The Star of Bethlehem, or Ornithogalum umbellatum, is a delicate and beautiful flower with much associate loss. The flower is native to Europe and North Africa and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries due to its healing properties.
One reason the Star of Bethlehem is associated with sadness is that it blooms in the spring, often around Easter. For Christians, this time of year is associated with the crucifixion and resurrection, a time of great sadness and grief followed by hope and renewal.
Another reason for the flower’s association with sadness is its use in homeopathy. In homeopathic medicine, Star of Bethlehem is used to treat shock and trauma, both physical and emotional. This association with healing adds a hopeful note to the flower’s symbolism.
15. Sweet William
Sweet William, also known as Dianthus barbatus, is a beloved flowering plant with fragrant blooms and colorful petals. According to legend, Sweet William got its name after a young man who died of a broken heart after being rejected by his true love.
This tragic story has made the flower a popular symbol of unrequited love and the pain of loss and rejection.
In some cultures, Sweet William is associated with luck and good fortune. In Victorian England, for example, Sweet William was often used as a symbol of luck and was given as a gift to wish the recipient good fortune in their endeavors.
This association with luck suggests that loss and disappointment are possible even with great success and happiness.
16. Thistle
Thistle is a striking and resilient flowering plant often associated with strength and resilience.
Thistle has sharp, spiky leaves and a prickly texture, which may be seen as a reflection of the pain and suffering.
In addition, Thistle’s purple and white blooms may be seen as a reflection of the duality of life, with the white symbolizing purity and the purple symbolizing mourning.
Interestingly, in some cultures, Thistle is also associated with protection and defense. In Scotland, for example, Thistle is the national flower and is often used as a symbol of national pride and identity. Yet, it reminds us of the price the Scotts paid and their sacrifices throughout history.
17. Snapdragon
Snapdragon is a flowering plant with colorful blooms. The snapdragon flower resembles a dragon’s mouth, with its distinctive two-lipped shape and pointed teeth. This aggressive appearance symbolizes fire and unstoppable wrath that often comes from pain.
Interestingly, in some cultures, Snapdragon is also associated with deception and cruelty. Snapdragon is also a symbol of deception and can represent a person who is “false-hearted” or “cruel.”
This association with deception and cruelty adds a darker note to the flower’s melancholic symbolism, suggesting the possibility of betrayal and heartbreak even in moments of great happiness and joy.
18. Waxflower
Waxflower, or Chamelaucium, is a delicate and fragrant flowering plant that we often associate with love and romance. Waxflower has delicate, papery petals and is easily damaged or wilted. This fragility may be seen as a reflection of the vulnerability and sadness that can come with grief.
In some cultures, Waxflower is also associated with separation and longing. In Australia, for example, Waxflower is often used in floral arrangements for weddings and other special occasions.
Still, it can also be used in arrangements for funerals and other unhappy events. This association with happiness and sadness adds a feeling, suggesting that even the strongest love and the happiest lives all end one day.
19. Wild rose
Wild Rose, also known as Rosa rugosa, is a rugged and hardy flowering plant often associated with love and beauty. Wild Rose has sharp thorns that can cause pain and injury if not handled carefully. This prickly nature reflects bitterness and anger after experiencing a breakup or loss.
Wild Rose is also associated with secrecy and confidentiality. In medieval Europe, Wild Rose symbolized secrecy. The phrase “sub rosa” means “under the rose.”
This association with secrecy adds a mysterious and enigmatic note, suggesting that even in moments of great openness and vulnerability, hidden agendas might come to hurt us one day.
20. Wisteria
Wisteria is a beautiful, enchanting flowering plant known for its cascading, fragrant blooms. Wisteria often grows in abandoned or neglected areas, lending a sense of abandonment and sadness to its symbolism.
This sense of abandonment reminds us of a natural feeling we all experience after losing a loved one. Wisteria is also used as a symbol in paintings, poems, and novels to show sadness, longing, or unfulfilled desires.
21. Gladiolus
Gladiolus, also known as sword lilies, are striking flowers that come in various colors and are often used to symbolize strength, honor, and faithfulness. However, in certain contexts, gladiolus can also represent sadness and loss.
Giving a Gladiolus flower to someone conveyed the message “I am sorry for your loss” or “I understand your pain.” This is because the tall and upright spikes of the gladiolus flowers represented a sword or a lance, often used in battles and associated with sadness and mourning.
22. Forget-me-not
Forget-me-nots are small flowers that symbolize remembrance and loyalty. They are typically blue and known for their striking appearance and sweet fragrance.
Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along a riverbank when the knight saw a beautiful bouquet of blue flowers growing by the water’s edge. He bent down to pick them for his lady, but his armor weighed him down, and he fell into the river and drowned.
As he was swept away by the current, he threw the flowers to his lady and shouted, “Forget me not!” From that day on, the flowers were associated with the memory of lost love and the accompanying grief.
23. Dahlia
Dahlias are one of the most beautiful and diverse flowers in the world, and they have been used as symbols for many different things, including sadness. This is because of their association with death and loss, as they are a popular choice of flowers in funerals.
While dahlias can come in many colors and shapes, darker varieties, such as deep red, often represent grief and sadness. These colors are associated with mourning and darkness, common themes in sadness and loss.
24. Pansy
In the language of flowers, pansies remind us of nostalgia or longing for someone we lost. This may be partly due to their appearance, as their drooping petals and subdued colors can evoke a sense of sadness or melancholy.
However, the symbolic meaning of pansies as a symbol of sadness is not just based on their appearance. Pansies have been associated with tales of lost love and unrequited affection in folklore and mythology.
In some cultures, it was believed that carrying a bouquet of pansies could help soothe a broken heart or ease the pain of grief.
25. Blue Poppy
The Blue poppy, also known as the Himalayan blue poppy, is a stunning flower connected to grief. The blue poppy is known for its striking blue-purple petals and delicate, papery texture. It’s a rare and elusive flower, making it all the more precious and coveted. The Blue poppy became a symbol of rarity and unattainable beauty because it grows only in one area.
The flower’s short bloom time, typically only lasting a few days, is a metaphor for how life goes in a flicker. In Buddhist culture, the blue poppy represents the constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Even though the blue poppy reminds us of sadness, it can signify hope and strength. It is a sign of strength and perseverance that it can grow in harsh mountain environments and survive hard times.
Wrapping Up
As we end our tour of the 25 flowers that mean sadness, we’ve seen how flowers can say things that words can’t. Each flower has its special meaning and can help you feel better when you’re sad.
Whether it’s a lily or a chrysanthemum, these flowers are a reminder that beauty and hope can be found even in the worst times. These flowers also remind us that hope and beauty are fleeting.
Similar Articles:
20 Flowers That Symbolize Life and Why
25 Flowers that Symbolize Protection and How They Got This Meaning
