When someone passes away, sending flowers is one of the most traditional ways to express sympathy and respect. However, selecting the right flowers for a funeral can be challenging due to the diverse meaning behind different flower colors and types. To help you choose the best flowers for a funeral, we have compiled a list of the most popular funeral flowers and their meanings.
Lilies
Lilies are the most traditional funeral flowers, symbolizing innocence and purity of the soul. They are often associated with the Christian tradition of lilies representing the Virgin Mary, the epitome of purity, peace, and innocence. White lilies are a good color to send for a faith-based or religious service.
Carnations
Carnations are a very popular choice for sympathy flowers. They are fragrant and long-lasting flowers, making them ideal for services that last for several days. A white carnation represents purity and innocence, while pink carnations send thoughts of remembrance.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, make a wonderful choice when mourning with a family that has ties to Europe or Asia. In China, Korea, and Japan, white chrysanthemums are used to symbolize grief. Chrysanthemums add pops of color to a funeral arrangement and can be used to celebrate the person's life and achievements.
Gladioli
When mourning someone who displayed strength and character in life, gladioli are an excellent choice to send to the family. As a sympathy flower, its message is one of upliftment during a time of loss.
Roses
Roses have a universal meaning that makes them ideal as a funeral flower. Red roses express love and respect, while pink roses are a sign of appreciation and grace. If you're celebrating the life of a close friend, yellow roses are suitable. White roses tend to represent purity and innocence.
Orchids
Orchids are among the most treasured funeral flowers because of their beauty, rarity, and endurance. These are especially great if you're considering sending flowers to the family of the departed. Pink and white phalaenopsis and dendrobium are the most appropriate varieties for a funeral.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are popular as cut flowers and potted plants when considering flowers for funerals. They accentuate the meaning of another flower, making them a common addition to funeral bouquets with hyacinths.
Gladioli
Gladioli are popular types of funeral flowers because they can have many meanings. They're a beautiful way to encourage grieving family members and honor the person who has died.
funeral flower color meanings
When it comes to the best flowers to send for a funeral, symbolism is important. As we learned above, flowers can have many different meanings. Their colors can also change their meaning, so knowing what each color represents is important.
- White: Remembrance, innocence, purity, peace, respect
- Pink: Sympathy, peace, familial love
- Red: Everlasting love, familial love, beauty
- Yellow: Celebrations of life, fond memories, youth
- Blue: Mourning, condolences, hope
- Purple: Respect, dignity, honor, remembrance
popular mourning arrangements
Here are some of the most common arrangements used at a funeral. Most funeral homes can make arrangements for all or most of these options.
- Standing sprays are special arrangements typically set up on tripods around the casket.
- Funeral baskets are versatile options that are easy for the family to move between events.
- Wreaths are among the most traditional ways to express condolences; the circle represents eternal life and rebirth.
- Funeral crosses and hearts are shaped wreaths that express devotion to faith and love. Crosses are only appropriate for Christian services, while hearts are appropriate for most Western funerals.
- Living plants can last long after the funeral and will remain a comfort to family and friends for days, weeks, or years to come.
cultural considerations to keep in mind
Many religious and cultural traditions have a long and storied history supporting gifts of funeral flowers, but not all religions and traditions do.Traditionally, Jewish and Muslim funerals do not include flowers, but that does not always mean they are unwelcome. Red flowers are generally inappropriate at Buddhist funerals. White is a more respectful color choice.