Traditional Memorial Day Flowers
Red poppies are a traditional memorial day flower dating back to the end of World War I. The tradition began with a poem by Canadian Lt. Col John McCrae. McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Field, was inspired by McCrae’s time tending the wounded after the Second Battle of Ypres. The field where so many lost their lives still had poppy clusters. The poem grew popular and so did the red poppy, now a symbol of somber remembrance, sacrifice, and courage.
Memorial Day Bouquets for Veterans
Poppies, sadly, do not survive as well as cut flowers in bouquets. If you want to send a long-lasting bouquet, we have great alternatives. Another traditional flower that symbolizes remembrance is the gladiola, which comes in a variety of colors including red and white. You can also select any flower combination with red, white, and blue or settle on a single color red or white arrangement. We love combinations of blue hydrangeas or irises, with gerbera daisies and white lilies or white carnations.
Decoration Day Flowers
Memorial Day was observed after the Civil War as Decoration Day. It was called Decoration Day because General James Garfield gave a speech and decorated the graves of 20,000 soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia with flowers. Peonies were a popular flower for Decoration Day that continue to be used as Memorial Day Flowers because they bloom in May and offer a beautiful symbol of sincerity and honor.
Learn about the best flowers for Memorial Day and get answers to other questions with help from our floral experts.
Red poppies (Papaver)
Peonies (Paeonia)
Gladiola (Gladiolus)
Forget Me Nots (Myosotis)
Red Roses or Carnations
Gerbera Daisies
Blue Flowers
In 2023, Memorial Day is Monday, May 29th. Get your order in ahead of time so you can have your flowers for Memorial Day delivered on time.
Memorial Day in the U.S. falls on the last Monday in May every year. This means that year to year, the exact date will vary, but like Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, Memorial Day will always be on a Monday.
Memorial Day is different from other holidays. It’s not a festive day, but rather a day of sincere remembrance. With this in mind, try to avoid a few things on Memorial Day.
Don’t wish someone a “happy Memorial Day.” Memorial Day is not a birthday or Christmas. It’s a day to honor those who have lost their lives in war.
Don’t thank active soldiers because it’s Memorial Day. Memorial Day doesn’t honor active soldiers or veterans (that’s what Veteran’s Day is for). Memorial Day recognizes military personnel who have passed away.
Don’t forget to show respect. Many people do host BBQs or other events on Memorial Day. If you attend one of those gatherings, make sure to show respect. There can never be too much kindness. If you can’t make it, think about sending a Memorial Day gift to the family who’s lost a loved one.
Memorial Day is a bit like Labor Day. It’s a holiday that symbolizes a change of season. Many businesses hold Memorial Day sales to kick off the summer shopping season. It can also go a long way if you send something nice, like flowers for Memorial Day, to the family that has lost a loved one.
