What Flower Symbolizes Death of a Loved One

Posted on 22/12/2021

What Flower Symbolizes Death of a Loved One?

Lilies are often thought of as the flower of death, but actually, there are lots of options, and choosing the right one depends on your connection to the deceased. Some flowers, or colour of flowers, symbolise romantic love, others represent friendship, some signify respect and admiration. With so many options to choose from, it is understandable why people often get confused. This is where working with a florist can be extremely beneficial as they can offer advice on the most appropriate bouquet based on your situation. After all, there is more to choosing funeral flowers than just the meaning behind the blooms you choose. There are also practical considerations such as expense, delivery and how big you wish it to be. A florist can help advice on all those areas and make sure that the flowers for funerals you choose are the best option. That said, there are, of course, certain flowers that are particularly common in funeral arrangements, and below we look at some of these and their meanings:

Lilies are one of the most common funeral flowers. These represent innocence and return to the earth. They are extremely common in sympathy flowers and funeral arrangements, especially the white varieties.

Roses - these are typically associated with romantic love, especially the red coloured ones. Red roses are therefore appropriate following the death of a spouse or romantic partner as they symbolise love. White roses may be appropriate for the loss of a child as they symbolise innocence. Yellow roses are a good option if you are mourning the loss of a friend.

Orchids symbolise rebirth but also have the meaning ‘I will always love you’. They are, therefore, highly suited for any close connection and show how much you love and care for the deceased.

Chrysanthemums - as with roses, the meaning varies depending on the colour. Red signals love, especially romantic love, so are good to celebrate the life of a spouse. White symbolises innocence and rebirth. Pink signifies honour and respect, so they are a good option for someone you may not be personally close to but respect a great deal.

Carnations are the most commonly used in funeral wreaths and funeral sprays, and once again, the colour affects the meaning. Pink has particular religious significance as they are believed to be linked to the Virgin Mary. Red symbolises love, white marks innocence. As above, the colour variation can be used to highlight your relationship with the deceased.

The colour of a hyacinth influences its meaning - red showing love, blue showing deep anguish and grief, and pink saying that someone is in your thoughts. As such, hyacinths are a great option for sympathy flowers as they are so versatile and can express many different emotions in one go.

Hydrangea expresses heartfelt emotion, so they are a natural choice as a funeral flower. Their blue-purple colour is also thought to express respect and loyalty, so again these may be particularly appropriate following the death of someone you are not that close with. However, because they express heartfelt emotions, they can also be excellent symbols of the love and respect you felt for someone very near and dear.

As you can see, there are a great many funeral flower options available, and it is important to take time to consider which ones speak to you and most aptly express your sorrow and connection to the deceased. As we highlighted above, working with a qualified florist is an excellent option if you need some guidance in choosing the best bouquet for your needs.