There are many frequently asked questions regarding flowers for funerals. Learn the best flowers to send, when and how to schedule your delivery, and more from our experts.

Before you dive into our helpful advice and send flowers for a funeral to a bereaved family, please make sure they are accepting flowers for the service. In case they do not, don’t give up on sending support. Ask if they have made any alternative requests for gifts that you can consider instead. If they do, you can console your friend, family member, or colleague with a simple yet profound gesture of flowers.

First, it’s important to recognize there are several types of funeral flower arrangements. There are flowers for the casket, funeral flower stands, flower baskets and arrangements, and your standard sympathy bouquets. Always check with the organizer for where they prefer flower arrangements to be sent for visitation and remembrance.

Flowers are a powerful way to express sympathy and let someone know you are thinking of them. They can help comfort the loved ones of the deceased. Depending upon the traditions of different societies, flowers can also carry specific significance. Funeral flowers help celebrate the life of the deceased in a thoughtful way.

White lilies and light pink roses are popular flowers to send for memorials. In many cultures, white is the color of mourning. From France to China, white chrysanthemums are a go-to choice for funerals. Lilies and chrysanthemums make particularly appropriate choices for all cultures. Irises, roses, and carnations are also suitable.

In America, white and pink are appropriate choices for funeral flower arrangements. But consider the culture of the deceased and their family. In Asia, white and yellow are appropriate colors for condolence flowers. For Buddhist funerals, the color red should always be avoided.

It’s important to know if the family of the deceased adheres to specific cultural traditions, as every culture has different traditions. Jewish burials are often quick and funeral flowers are therefore typically deemed unnecessary. Hindu funerals are also quick and flowers at the funeral are considered inappropriate, although flowers may be sent to the homes of loved ones.

Throughout history and across cultures, flowers have long been placed to commemorate the deceased. Ancient Egyptians used stylized flower arrangements for burials, while in the 19th century, the Victorians created a whole language for flowers that express feelings. They named it floriography. Tea roses, for example, symbolize remembrance while crimson roses indicate grief.