What Flowers are Appropriate for a Funeral

The loss of a loved one is never easy to deal with, and consoling someone over this loss is also a challenge. A great way to show your love and support through this difficult time is through flowers.

Flowers are generally thought to be great gifts for happy occasions, and many people don’t think of them as appropriate for funerals. However, this isn’t true. There are many types of flowers out there that represent mourning the loss of a loved one and comfort those in grief.

This guide will talk about what types of flowers are appropriate at a funeral so you can pay your condolences the right way.

What Flowers To Consider For A Funeral

Every flower has a different meaning, so you must choose the right kind of flowers to give. Ideally, you need to pick flowers that will honor the deceased, show how much you respect them, and portray your love and wishes to their loved ones. This can be a lot to unpack, so let’s look at some of the popular types of funeral flowers.

Popular Types Of Funeral Flowers And Their Meaning

Here’s a list of the best choices for a flower bouquet or arrangement to bring to a funeral.

Orchids

Pink and white orchids are a good choice for funerals as both types represent eternal life and love.

Chrysanthemums

Unlike the last two flowers, these ones are very vibrant and celebrate the life of the deceased. They’re extremely popular in European funerals as they symbolize death. In Asian funerals, white chrysanthemums are popular.

Lilies

These flowers represent the innocence and purity of the departed soul. White lilies are very popular in American and European funerals.

Gladioli

These vibrant flowers are often used to celebrate the life of someone who lived to the fullest. They are tall and convey moral integrity and sincerity. At funerals, they give a message of strength and upliftment.

Carnations

Red, white, and pink carnations are other popular choices. Red carnations express love, white ones express pure love, and pink ones represent memory.

Hyacinths

These flowers can portray your grief at a funeral. When given to the grieving family, it shows that you are praying for them.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a popular choice when you want to represent support for the grieving family. These flowers are usually given as potted plants, and you should be able to get a good arrangement from places like The Picket Fence Florist.

Roses

At the time of a funeral, deep crimson roses represent sorrow and grief. White roses can also be used in arrangements to express respect and admiration for the deceased. Be mindful not to give roses of the wrong color as they hold a different meaning.

What Flowers Are Appropriate At An Asian Funeral?

At an Asian funeral, your choice of flower should depend upon the grieving family’s local customs. In particular, the color of the flowers is significant in Asian funerals.

For Chinese funerals, any assortment of white flowers is acceptable. White roses, lilies, or chrysanthemums are acceptable choices. If not white, you may bring or send only yellow lilies or chrysanthemums.

In Korean culture, individuals are not expected to bring flowers. Flowers are only sent by businesses, organizations, or groups. At Korean funerals, white chrysanthemums are the most appropriate.

At a Japanese funeral, red flowers are not appropriate at all. White and yellow chrysanthemums are appropriate.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot of consideration that you must give when taking flowers to a funeral. Apart from the type of flower and local customs, you may also want to pay heed to religious customs.