The black rose is an enchanting flower that blossoms only in the rarest of places (in our case, Turkey). For years now, the black rose has been associated with death, darkness, and decay. In Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’s Den of Shadow series, the black rose is represented as a crest of the vampires, while in Sandy Benitez’s The Rosegiver, the flower is given to those who carry the inevitable fate of death. In the video game, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, the rose is illustrated as a symbol for mystery. Even in our culture, and especially around Halloween, the rose is used to symbolize the unknown, evil, and anything else we fear to understand.

So what makes the black rose so special? Why do readers tremble at the sight of its dark petals, despite sweet sayings such as, ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’? Why do they shudder at the sight of it, even when we know that it’s just a flower?

A Black Elegance 

The black rose has been used in gothic bouquets, festivals, and even weddings. Oftentimes, we don’t see this type of rose unless something terrible has, or will, happen. It’s a foreboding that causes us to look further into a situation, so very reminiscent of the shadow-like figures in sweet fairytales, or the mysterious scribes in childhood fantasies. The black rose also carries a regal air within it, its petals masterfully designed. Horrific retellings of fables and other legends tend to use the black rose, and even with its dark reputation, like its other siblings, it has the same aristocratic feel to it. Such charisma has been seen with immortal beings such as vampires and werewolves.

A Black Heart 

Its very association with these creatures is why this rose is still dangerous. Like all roses, it has thorns, as well as a morbid stigma that has managed to carry the flower across various literary genres. In the horror genre, black roses arise from terrifying situations, these roses are used to warn future victims of their fate. In paranormal romance, a black rose is used to denote the dangers of a love interest. In mystery, black roses can be used as macabre messages that reveal the inner insanity of the criminal. Of course, the black rose has also been used to denote a certain cruelty to whomever the flower is dedicated; for instance, giving someone a black rose on Valentine’s Day generally means you hate the person.

The black rose has made a home for itself in horror. As writers, we use the rose to convey to the reader there’s something more we at first don’t see, that we have to be on our guard in the event something happens. It’s been used as a conduit for our feelings, whether they be romantic or otherwise. It’s been associated with the supernatural for decades, and even then that doesn’t seem to be enough. Its unnatural beauty has captivated its audience for centuries, and is the very reason why writers can’t seem to shake off its haunting mysteries.