History Main / FlowerMotifs

* [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Ruby Rose]] is a passionate, idealistic girl who dresses largely in red.

--> -- "The Briar and the Rose", '''Music/TomWaits'''

* ''AmericanBeauty'' is, in fact, a variety of rose.

* White lilies, a symbol of death and mourning, appear consistently throughout ''WhiteNoise''.
* In ''KateAndLeopold'' the Duke of Albany teaches Kate's brother how to send a message to the woman he's interested in.

* This {{Motif}} is used several times in ''DonJuanDemarco''. When psychiatrist Dr. Mickler is talking the title character out of a suicide attempt, he introduces himself as "Don Octavio de ''Florez''." Coming to work after a night of romancing his wife Marilyn, Dr. Mickler cheerfully plucks tulips from the front of the mental institution and hands them out to the staff. When Mickler first proposes they go to "the Island of Eros", rather than their planned trip to the (antique) Pyramids, Marilyn is reluctant to take such a step: "I like it here, I like my garden." But the Island proves to have a far greater abundance of blooms: "It was like the Garden (of Eden) before the fall." A probable clue to the symbolism is this VO reverie near the movie's beginning:

* Played with in ''TwinPeaksFireWalkWithMe'', where the significance of the FBI "blue rose cases" is never explained. The popular interpretation among fans is that it refers to cases involving the supernatural, though.

* The symbol of Allebahst in ''[[VisualNovel/AceAttorney Ace Attorney Investigations]] is the flower, a symbol of the country's natural beauty. [[spoiler: And a flower is also on the hilt of the knife used to murder Manny Coachen. Alba smuggles it into the Theatrum Neutralis by hiding it in a bouquet of flowers.]]

* [[Franchise/DotHack Do you know what honeysuckles symbolize?]] [[IWillWaitForYou Devoted affection]].

* [[DotHack Do you know what honeysuckles symbolize?]] [[IWillWaitForYou Devoted affection]].

* Ophelia gives the court of Denmark a botany lesson in ''{{Hamlet}} IV''.v.

* {{A Cruel God Reigns}}: Flowers and other foliage are used for a variety of purposes; When Jeremy dreams of his mother Sandra, she is usually in a field of flowers [[spoiler: until Jeremy finds out she knew he was being beaten and raped by his stepfather]]. When Jeremy is being sexually abused, the scenes in which it happens often switch to Jeremy being ensnared in vines and trees, as well as the thorns and flowers growing out of him (usually his head). Later on in the series, Ian compares Jeremy's mental state to being trapped and lost in a forest, unable to reach wide fields and flower gardens.

* Many {{Child Ballad}}s, but especially "Scarborough Fair", due to its modern popularity. The refrain in "Scarborough Fair" (a.k.a. "The Elfin Knight") seems to represent a love spell:

--> -- "The Briar and the Rose", '''TomWaits'''

* Almost all versions and retellings of "Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast" focus on [[SomethingAboutARose roses]], which are not only the flowers Beauty asks her father for that trigger his fateful meeting with the Beast but also a famous symbol of love. Two retellings that add extra layers of symbolism and meaning to this flower motif are ''{{Beastly}}'', which emphasizes that ''white'' roses mean true love and has the Beast plant a flower called "Little Linda" in his greenhouse in honor of the Beauty's arrival, and ''Literature/RoseDaughter'', which goes all-out on the rose motif by decorating ''every single thing'' in the Beast's castle with it and having Beauty's major motivation at the castle be reviving the Beast's near-dead rose garden.

** Also, Amanda spends a good monologue raving about the summer when she went mad for jonquils, [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic symbolizing the high days of her youth]], which she's constantly trying to relive. Jonquil is a name found in the American Southeast for the ''narcissus.''
* The image of the briar and the rose is all over Tom Waits' rock opera ''The Black Rider''. "The Briar and the Rose", quoted at the top of this page symbolizes Wilhelm's realization that he can't marry Käthchen (the rose) without [[DealWithTheDevil help]] from [[LouisCypher Pegleg]] (the briar). Then, in one of Pegleg's many {{Villain Song}}s, "Flash Pan Hunter", he gloats over his impending victory with the line "The briar is strangling the rose back down." And when [[spoiler: Käthchen dies]], what's the song? "The Last Rose of Summer Is Gone".
* [[Creator/WilliamShakespeare Ophelia]] gives the court of Denmark a botany lesson in ''{{Hamlet}} IV''.v.

--> -- "The Briar and the Rose", '''Tom Waits'''

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', Yuna, as well as as being the Okinawan word for 'night' (contrasting Tidus' 'sun'), is also the Japanese name for the sea hibiscus, and hibiscus patterns are seen on her skirt, obi, and necklace. Her unique Floral Fallal Dressphere also references this in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2''.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', Yuna, as well as as being the Okinawan word for 'night' (contrasting Tidus' 'sun'), is also the Japanese name for the sea hibiscus, and hibiscus patterns are seen on her skirt, obi, and necklace. Her unique Floral Fallal Dressphere also references this.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', Yuna, as well as as being the Okinawan word for 'night' (contrasting Tidus' 'sun'), is also the Japanese name for the sea hibiscus, and hibiscus patterns are seen on her skirt, obi, and necklace.

* ''Manga/WeddingPeach'' gives the Love Angels' flowers meanings, but other than Momoko[[hottip:* := Peach = "Long-life, generosity, and bridal hope" (jp)]] they don't match well with either European or Japanese languages:
** Angel Lily / Yuri [[hottip:* := spider lily = "sweet" (jp) & "purity" (en)]] "In the language of flowers the name of the pure lily is special. It means 'It will bloom and grant love'"
** Angel Daisy / Hinagiku [[hottip:* := daisy = "faith" (jp) & "Innocence, loyal love, purity, faith, cheer, simplicity" (en)]] "The daisy is the emblem of the innocent heart. It will blow away the evil wind!"
** Angel Salvia / Scarlet [[hottip:* : salvia / red sage = "domestic virtue" (en)]] "In the language of flowers, Salvia means burning heart. Warrior of Heaven, Angel Salvia, is here!"

* In ''KushielsLegacy'', each of the houses/themes of the [[TheOldestProfession Night Court]] are inspired by flowers.

*** Squad 5: The Lily-of-the-Valley, this symbolises Pure Love, Sacrifice and Danger. Tragically subverted since this is the division [[BigBad Aizen]] captained and [[BreakTheCutie Hinamori]] loved him unconditionally, placing her in the most danger of anyone by being his NumberTwo.

* * Many British murder mysteries make reference to flowers - Belladonna (deadly nightshade) is a favorite as a poison. ''Rosemary and Thyme'' takes this to the next level though. Not only are they named after herbs, but the contents of their garden often provide a clue to the murder...or at least serve as inspiration for the [[AnAesop aesop]] at the end.
* The ITV series ''RosemaryAndThyme'' features two gardeners/detectives who use "the language of flowers" to solve murders.