What Flowers Are Used in Sympathy Bouquets?
For centuries, sending a sympathy bouquet has been a heartfelt way to express condolences, offer comfort, and honour the memory of a loved one. This timeless gesture provides a touch of beauty and peace during a challenging time. But with so many types of flowers, each carrying its own unique meaning, how do you choose the right ones to convey your specific message of support and remembrance? Understanding the symbolism behind different blooms can help you create a tribute that is both beautiful and deeply meaningful. This guide will walk you through the most common and appropriate flowers used in sympathy arrangements, ensuring your gesture speaks directly from the heart.

Sympathy Flowers: Here's All You Need to Know
Sending flowers is a common way to show you care, but when you do it to show sympathy, it means a lot more. These arrangements are a way to show compassion without words. They comfort the grieving and honour the life that was lost. This tradition goes back thousands of years.
Sympathy flowers are essential for modern grieving, in addition to their historical roots. They create a space that evokes warmth and life, whether in a funeral home or a family's home. Fresh flowers serve as a gentle reminder of the natural cycle of life and can offer people who are grieving a peaceful moment. Sending flowers is a way to show that you care about the family and share in their sorrow.
Flowers Used in Sympathy Bouquets
Choosing the right flowers for a sympathy bouquet takes time and thought. You can send a message of comfort, love, and respect with each flower, since each one has its own meaning. Here are some of the most popular flowers for sympathy bouquets, along with their meanings.
Lilies
Lilies are probably the most common flower used for funerals and to show sympathy. The white lily symbolizes the restored innocence of the deceased personās soul. People often use stargazer lilies to express sympathy, as they are a lovely and fragrant choice. Lilies are a beautiful and pure flower that can be used in any sympathy arrangement, from standing sprays to bouquets.
Roses
Roses can convey different meanings depending on their colour. White roses are a popular choice for sympathy arrangements because they symbolize respect, innocence, and purity. Red roses symbolize deep love and passion, while yellow roses represent strong friendship and happiness. People often give pink roses to express their affection for the person who has passed away. A bouquet of roses in different colours can convey a wide range of emotions.
Carnations
Another classic choice for sympathy flowers is carnations. They last a long time and smell greatātheir meaning changes with the colour, just like roses. White carnations stand for pure love and innocence. Red carnations show love and admiration. Pink carnations are traditionally less common for funerals, as they are often associated with remembrance.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums, also known as "mums," are often used as funeral flowers in many cultures. In some parts of Europe and Asia, they are primarily associated with death and sadness. In the US, they are more commonly seen as a flower of respect and honour. White chrysanthemums symbolize honesty and loyalty, making them a fitting way to remember a life well-lived.
Orchids
Orchids symbolize love that will last forever. Because of their delicate and exotic beauty, they make a graceful choice for a sympathy arrangement. Pink and white orchids are both traditional colours for showing sympathy. An orchid in a pot is a lasting gift that will remind the family of your support.
From Funerals to Memorial Services and More, Compassion Flowers Offers the Best Florals in Town
When words aren't enough, choosing sympathy flowers is a thoughtful way to express your feelings. The right flowers can bring you peace, send a message of love, and keep the memory of someone special alive. You can create a beautiful and meaningful tribute by learning the meanings behind flowers like lilies, roses, and carnations. Your thoughtful choice becomes a quiet, yet strong, way to show support for the grieving.
At Compassion Flowers, we understand the importance of sending your condolences with care and grace. Our skilled florists create beautiful, heartfelt, and sentimental arrangements for funerals, memorial services, and the home of the deceased. We help you find the right flowers to show your support and remember your loved one.

We offer a large selection of fresh, high-quality flowers and provide personalized service to ensure your floral tribute is precisely how you want it. We treat every order with the utmost care and respect, whether it's an elegant standing spray, a bouquet, or a long-lasting potted plant. Let us help you bring some comfort and beauty to a hard time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pick the correct arrangement?
Think about how you knew the person who died and their family. Standing sprays or wreaths are common for a formal funeral service. A small vase arrangement or a potted plant, such as an orchid, is a thoughtful way to send condolences to the family's home. It's also a good idea to consider what the family or the person who passed away would have liked.
Is it okay to send flowers to a funeral home?
Yes, it is very common and appropriate to send flowers directly to the funeral home. You will need to give the name of the deceased and the name and address of the funeral home when you place your order at a florist. It's also important to know when and where the service will be so that your flowers get there on time. After that, the staff at the funeral home will arrange the service in a manner suitable for the viewing.
What are the guidelines for sending sympathy flowers?
You can send sympathy flowers to the funeral home, the church where the service will be held, or the family's home. It's usually best to deliver them as soon as you hear the news. Always send a card with a short, heartfelt note of sympathy. Sending a bouquet or a live plant to the family's home after the funeral is still a kind and comforting gesture if you learn about the death afterward.