GOTHIC ROMANCE: FLOWERS WITH MELODRAMATIC FLAIR
There are some flowers that are so witchy and romantic it seems as if they only exist in our imagination. But there are plenty of real flowers that look (and sound and smell) like something out of a gothic novel or Grimm’s fairy tale. A blossom that sounds as if it were named by a gothic romance novelist and that’s surely to be on everyone’s tongue when “Practical Magic 2” comes out is, of course, nightshade. While nightshade is a genus of plant with over 2,000 species, there are some that immediately come to mind from this family, such as belladonna and datura. Did you know that nightshade doesn’t always refer to poisonous plants? Tomatoes, aubergines, and potatoes are also species of this genus. Because tomatoes were first recognized as a member of this botanical family, they were regarded with suspicion at first, and many thought they were toxic.
A famously noxious flower associated with a bit of darkness is deadly nightshade. One of our favourite late summer bloomers in this category is called “datura” or, more colloquially, “jimson weed.” Known for its large white trumpet-shaped blossoms, datura only opens its petals at dusk when it releases an intense fragrance. It was believed long ago that even inhaling this odour could cause delusions and, in some cultures, it’s considered sacred for its hallucinatory effects. It is also referred to as the angel or devil’s trumpet (take your pick) and/or “moonflower.” Native to South America, datura attracts sphinx moths and even bats. While it grows wild in fields and pastures—to the point of invasiveness—livestock aren’t usually bothered by it since they avoid its pungent odour altogether.
Some other flowers inspired by gothic literature include the crimson rhododendrons of Manderley in Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca” that are so lush and lurid they appear “slaughterous.” Ophelia’s flowers in “Hamlet” helped to create one of the most iconic and hauntingly melancholy scenes in all of literature. She drowns beneath a willow that “grows aslant a brook” as it “shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream.” Of course, a weeping willow is pretty self-explanatory in its symbolism, but something like “crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples” are less so (except that long purples are quoted by Shakespeare to be called “dead men’s fingers” by “cold maids”). These “dead men’s fingers” are most likely marsh orchids.
Nigella or “love-in-a-mist” immediately evokes scenarios of romance, foggy moors, gothic—and possibly haunted—castles with ornate stone statues, gargoyles, and ivy spreading through cracks in a centuries-old foundation. These blue star-shaped flowers have wispy green leaves that look more like lace than foliage, are cool-weather bloomers, and grow annually. Also known as “fennel flower” or “bishop’s wort,” these seemingly delicate beauties are no-fuss and quite hardy. The name alone suggests they were destined for poetry. Night-blooming jasmine (also known as “lady of the night”) is another dusky posy that only opens when it gets dark. With white tubular blossoms in five-pointed stars, this plant is infamous for its fragrance. Like one of Baudelaire’s fleurs du mal, she, a flower “of rarest bloom,” proffers her perfume to the night sky. Because it releases an intensely sweet and exotic fragrance only after the sun sets, this kind of jasmine is associated with mystery and sensuality.
While bleeding hearts love the shade, their blooms do not open and close. These perennials appear in the spring and dangle on a stem like earrings. The white or pink heart-shaped flowers have a droplet-shaped tip that makes them look like they’re dripping or bleeding. Of course, a gothic garden wouldn’t be complete without them. Some black botanicals we love include Queen of the night tulips that are such a deep shade of purple they appear ebony. Velvety black petunias are another low-maintenance option if you’re looking for a simple potted plant that packs a punch and dresses the part. There are also black hollyhocks and hellebores (or Christmas roses). One would be remiss not to mention the most famous of all gothic flowers with creepy connotations: the Black Dahlia. Also called “black satin” and “Arabian night,” the black dahlia alludes to the 1947 unsolved murder case and still carries with its moniker a lot of intrigue and mystery. A whorl of dense petals that are not quite black but more of a burgundy or deep chocolate make this blossom irresistible. Native to Mexico and Central America, dahlias are a popular summer flower that take us right into autumn, thrive until it frosts, and have a long vase life.
For more on the flowers mentioned in this blog, check out the sites below; for your own custom floral arrangement with seasonal flair and a color theme to match your mood, visit Chelsea Flowers.
https://myshakespeare.com/hamlet/act-4-scene-7-video-note-ophelias-death