9 Funeral Flowers and Their Meaning (2024)

Picking out an arrangement for a family member or friend who has passed can be overwhelming. With the many options of colors and types of flowers, it's important to know you're picking the right ones to honor your loved one. Here is a list of our most popular funeral flowers and the meaning behind their beauty.

Lilies

The most traditional funeral flowers center around the lily. The lily can be a powerful symbol of the spirit of a loved one that offers hope and encouragement to a grieving family. White is 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. Pink carnations send thoughts of remembrance.

Chrysanthemums

The chrysanthemum, or mum, makes a wonderful choice when mourning with a family that has ties to Europe or Asia. China, Korea and Japan use white chrysanthemums to symbolize grief.

Gladioli

When mourning someone who displayed strength and character in life, the gladioli is 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. Pink roses are a sign of appreciation and grace. If you're celebrating the life of a close friend, yellow roses are suitable. Like the lily, white roses tend to represent purity and innocence.

Orchids

If you wish to say “I will always love you,” send an orchid. Express your sympathy with a pink, purple or white orchid plant.

Hydrangeas

Not all funeral flowers are cut flowers. Sending a potted hydrangea plant is a good option when you want the family to have continued support. Potted hydrangeas can be planted outdoors when the family is ready, and they will bloom for years afterward.

Daffodils and Tulips

Daffodils and tulips send a message of renewal, especially bright yellow varieties. Both flowers bring encouragement and hope to a grieving family.

Forget-Me-Nots

The meaning of this flower shouldn’t be too difficult to decipher. The forget-me-not communicates a simple but essential message to a family: your loved one lives on in our hearts and memories.

9 Funeral Flowers and Their Meaning (2024)

FAQs

What do the different funeral flowers mean? ›

Red roses convey respect, love, and courage. Pink roses signify love, grace, appreciation and gentility. Dark crimson roses denote grief and sorrow. Yellow roses are given by friends of the deceased to symbolize their strong ties. When you include a single rose in a bouquet it expresses enduring love for the deceased.

What are the sympathy flowers and their meanings? ›

Funeral flower meanings
  • Spread beauty with calla lilies. ...
  • Choose red carnations to show admiration. ...
  • Show love with red chrysanthemums. ...
  • Daffodils symbolize new beginnings. ...
  • Gardenias represent peace and purity. ...
  • Show strength of character with gladiolus. ...
  • Hydrangeas convey heartfelt emotions. ...
  • Lilies symbolize rebirth of the soul.

What flower symbolizes death of a loved one? ›

Carnations symbolize love and remembrance.

Their connection to death comes from their frequent use in funeral arrangements or as sympathy gifts to those who've lost a loved one. White, dark red, and pink carnations are particularly apt for mourning as they symbolize remembrance, deep love, and a mother's loss.

What is the most appropriate flower for a funeral? ›

The most traditional funeral flowers center around the lily. The lily can be a powerful symbol of the spirit of a loved one that offers hope and encouragement to a grieving family. White is a good color to send for a faith-based or religious service.

What do purple flowers mean at a funeral? ›

Purple, a color traditionally tied to notions of royalty and dignity, is less frequently seen but still bears significant meaning in funeral flower arrangements. Purple flowers, like lavender or violets, often stand as a symbol of admiration and honor for a life that was well-lived.

What do the different colors of flowers mean? ›

Red: Red flowers, especially roses, are most often associated with romantic love and passion. They can also mean desire, strength, courage, and respect. Pink: For more playful, platonic love, go with pink flowers. They represent happiness, innocence, gentleness, and grace.

What flower symbolizes a broken heart? ›

All about the Dicentra

The Dicentra, also known as the broken heart, is a versatile flower to add to your assortment. Native to Asia and North America, this beautiful flower is known for its unique and striking shape.

What is a flower that means sorry? ›

Hyacinths. Purple or blue hyacinths signify constancy, regret and sincerity. This makes them great apology flowers for letting that special someone know that you are truly sorry and that you're still hoping to be a constant in their life. Steer clear of yellow hyacinths though, which represent jealousy.

What flower means suffering? ›

Black Dahlia

The deep, dark colour of the Dahlia flower, especially the black variety, can symbolize sorrow and pain.

What flowers mean goodbye? ›

White and yellow chrysanthemums are widely used to say goodbye, particularly in Asia. This 'golden flower' is packed with meaning in those countries.

What is the flower for death funeral? ›

White lilies, in particular, are often associated with funerals and convey a sense of peace and serenity. Roses: Roses are timeless and versatile flowers that can be used in sympathy arrangements. White roses symbolize purity, innocence, and reverence, while pink roses can represent grace and admiration.

What is the flower for a dead loved one? ›

White flowers are commonly used in sympathy bouquets. Peace lilies, white carnations, white roses, and white daisies are often displayed in these bouquets. These flowers symbolize peace and serenity. They also celebrate the life of the one who passed and serve to honor their memory.

What is the proper etiquette for funeral flowers? ›

Funeral flower etiquette dictates that you always address funeral flowers to the funeral parlor, with an instruction informing the funeral home personnel that the flowers are for the funeral of the name of the decedent. You can also take funeral flowers to the grave – especially if you're a family member.

What do the colors of funeral flowers mean? ›

White flowers are the most commonly present at funerals. This traditional color choice represents honor, peace, and innocence. Pink is considered a respectful color choice, used to express gentleness and sympathy. Red flowers symbolize love, as well as beauty and strength.

How to choose funeral flowers? ›

Take a look at these colours and the meanings behind them to allow you to choose the best flowers for a funeral:
  1. White — represents eternal love and purity.
  2. Yellow — signifies hope and friendship.
  3. Green — reflects renewal and the natural world.
  4. Red — symbolises love, strength and devotion.

What color flowers for condolences? ›

Traditionally, white is the colour of choice for most funeral and condolence flowers. In the language of flowers, white flowers represent peace, innocence and purity. This makes them a perfect fit for funerals, as well as weddings and baby showers.

How do I choose flowers for my funeral? ›

Take a look at these colours and the meanings behind them to allow you to choose the best flowers for a funeral:
  1. White — represents eternal love and purity.
  2. Yellow — signifies hope and friendship.
  3. Green — reflects renewal and the natural world.
  4. Red — symbolises love, strength and devotion.

Are funeral flowers for the deceased or family? ›

Funeral flowers are usually not addressed to a particular loved one of the deceased but are intended, instead, as a way to pay respect to the deceased themselves. Sympathy flowers go to the home of the deceased.

What do different flowers mean on graves? ›

Tulip: confidence, affection, and enduring love. Yellow carnation or rose: friendship and gratitude. White iris: purity and faith. White carnation or rose: purity, innocence, and sympathy. Violet: devotion, faithfulness, and friendship.

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