5 most popular funeral flowers and their meanings

​In the wake of a death, it can be challenging to adequately encapsulate deep feelings of sympathy and sorrow in words. Sending flowers to the bereaved is a tried-and-true method of expressing love and support, but it is important to be aware of the messages that specific flowers symbolize. 
 
We’ve compiled a list of the five most popular funeral flowers and their meanings, so you can express the emotions that are hard to put into words. 

Carnation

​On May 12, 1907, Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day, distributed 500 white carnations to the mothers at St. Andrew’s Church in Grafton, West Virginia in honor of her beloved, late mother, who favored carnations.

​“The white carnation is preferred because it may be thought to typify some of the virtues of motherhood,” Anna said. “Whiteness stands for purity; [the carnation's] lasting qualities: faithfulness; its fragrance: love; its wide field of growth: charity." 

Red carnations represent deep, profound love, while purple carnations symbolize spontaneity. 

Hyacinth

​Hyacinth, which is known for its sweet fragrance, is another popular choice for sympathy arrangements.

Due to stories in Greek mythology, purple hyacinth has come to symbolize deep sorrow and sincerity.

​Blue hyacinth represents deep and loyal friendship, while white hyacinth represents sincere prayers being sent. 

Daisy

​According to Celtic legend, daisies were strewn across the Earth in the wake of an infant's passing in an act of God, who wanted to cheer the parents up. This is how daisies have come to represent innocence, purity and new beginnings. 

The meaning of the daisy depends on its species. For instance, the Michaelmas Daisy symbolizes a final goodbye, while the English Daisy symbolizes motherly love. 

Rose

​Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love, was depicted with roses in her hair, which is partly how the flower came to symbolize deep and enduring love.

For funerals, black roses are popular, as they symbolize a final farewell.  Dark pink roses represent respect and gratitude, while light pink roses stand for admiration. White roses symbolize purity and innocence and yellow roses represent friendship. 

Lily

​The strongly aromatic lily has been alluded to in historical texts as a symbol of God's beauty. 

In particular, white lilies represent a soul being restored to innocence after death, while pink lilies symbolize purity and feminity. 

The peace lily plant is the most popular funeral plant because it is known for its ablity to live for an extended amount of time.