Redwood City, CA · Sympathy Flowers
You need funeral flowers soon and you want them to say the right thing. Here are the 8 best flowers for a funeral, what each one means and how to get them to the service on time.
What this guide covers
Key Takeaways
- White lilies are the most traditional funeral flower. They stand for purity and peace.
- Roses fit any service because color carries the message: white for purity, pink for admiration and red and white together for unity.
- White carnations mean remembrance and hold their shape for hours, which is why florists build crosses and hearts from them.
- Match the tribute to your relationship: casket sprays from family, standing sprays from friends and vase arrangements or plants for the home.
- Check the obituary for “in lieu of flowers” and any religious customs before you order.
- In Redwood City, order by 3:00 PM on weekdays or 12:30 PM on Saturday for same-day funeral flower delivery.
Most people search for funeral flowers during one of the hardest weeks of their lives. The service is days away. The family is grieving. You want your flowers to feel right the moment they arrive.
Here is the reassuring part. A small group of flowers has carried meaning at funerals for generations. Choose from them and you will not get it wrong.
Below you will find each flower, what it says and the tribute where it looks its best. Stay to the end for the one detail most senders forget to include. It decides whether your flowers are in place before the service starts.
Victor Fuenzalida wrote this guide with the florists at Redwood City Florist & Balloons, who have designed casket sprays, standing wreaths and sympathy arrangements for Peninsula families since 2013.
What are the best flowers for a funeral?
The best flowers for a funeral are lilies, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, orchids, hydrangeas, gladiolus and gerbera daisies. White lilies and roses are the most traditional choices. Carnations and chrysanthemums last well in wreaths and sprays. Orchids and hydrangeas suit sympathy arrangements sent to the family’s home.
Meaning matters. So does practicality. Funeral flowers often stand in a warm chapel through hours of visitation and service. Sturdy blooms keep their shape the whole time, which is why you see them in nearly every standing spray.
| Flower | What it says | Where it works best |
|---|---|---|
| White lilies | Purity, peace | Casket sprays, memorial arrangements |
| Roses | Purity, admiration, love, unity (by color) | Any tribute, any relationship |
| Carnations | Remembrance | Crosses, hearts, standing sprays |
| Chrysanthemums | Truth, honor | Wreaths, standing sprays |
| Orchids | Delicate beauty | Gifts for the family’s home |
| Hydrangeas | Perseverance | Casket sprays, home arrangements |
| Gladiolus | Strength of character | Tall standing sprays |
| Gerbera daisies | Joy, a life celebrated | Celebrations of life |
8 funeral flowers and what they mean
Each flower below includes its traditional meaning and the tribute where it shines. The meanings come from the Society of American Florists flower meanings guide and the Old Farmer’s Almanac language of flowers.
1. Lilies: purity and peace
White lilies are the flower most people picture at a funeral. The language of flowers links the white lily to purity and the heavenly. That is why it so often rests on a casket.
Oriental lilies open wide and carry a rich fragrance that fills a chapel. Our Eternal Grace Memorial Arrangement pairs white lilies with red and white roses, carnations and chrysanthemums. It is a classic mix that suits any service.
2. Roses: love, respect and unity
Roses work for every relationship because their color carries the message. White roses mean purity. Pink roses show admiration and appreciation. Yellow roses stand for friendship. Red and white roses together mean unity, a fitting choice from a spouse or close family.
For the service, the Ivory Rose Sympathy Cross sets ivory roses over a bed of white carnations. For the family’s home, the Blush Garden Rose Arrangement in blush, cream and lavender feels gentle and personal.
3. Carnations: remembrance
White carnations mean remembrance. Pink carnations carry the message “I’ll never forget you.” Carnations also hold their shape longer than most cut flowers, so they look fresh from visitation to the final prayer.
That durability is why florists build crosses and hearts from them. The Peaceful Tribute White & Red Sympathy Cross uses a full bed of white carnations with red accents. The Eternal Love Heart Tribute shapes red carnations into a heart, a strong choice from a partner or child.
Lily pollen stains clothing and table linens. If you send lilies to a family’s home, ask us to trim the pollen anthers before delivery. The flowers look the same and the family has one less thing to worry about.
4. Chrysanthemums: truth and honor
White chrysanthemums stand for truth. In the United States, florists use them in wreaths and standing sprays because the full blooms last and fill space beautifully.
In much of Europe and East Asia, mums are so closely tied to funerals that people rarely give them for any other occasion. At a funeral, that meaning fits. Our Pure Love White Sympathy Heart Wreath combines white chrysanthemums with roses, hydrangeas and gerbera daisies.
5. Orchids: lasting beauty
Orchids represent delicate beauty. A potted orchid also outlasts cut flowers by weeks, so the family keeps something living long after the service ends. That makes it one of the most thoughtful sympathy gifts for a home.
Browse our orchid plants for a gift that lasts. Prefer cut flowers? The Elegant White Sympathy Flower Arrangement blends orchids with white roses and hydrangeas.
6. Hydrangeas: perseverance
Hydrangeas stand for perseverance. The language of flowers also links them to gratitude for being understood. Their full, rounded heads give a casket spray a soft, cloud-like shape.
Blue and white hydrangeas create a calm, peaceful tone. You can see it in our Elegant Blue & White Casket Spray, which pairs blue hydrangeas with white roses and lilies.
7. Gladiolus: strength of character
Gladiolus means strength of character and integrity. Its tall flower spikes add height to standing sprays. It suits a tribute for someone remembered for courage or a steady, quiet strength.
Gladiolus availability changes with the season. If you want it in a custom design, call us and we will tell you what is fresh this week.
8. Gerbera daisies: a life celebrated
Not every service is somber. Many families now hold a celebration of life, and bright gerbera daisies bring warmth to the room. In the language of flowers, the daisy stands for innocence.
The Celebration of Beautiful Memories Wreath mixes red, orange and yellow roses with orange gerberas. For something softer, the Golden Memories Sympathy Arrangement pairs yellow roses and gerberas with white chrysanthemums.
What color flowers are appropriate for a funeral?
White is the most traditional funeral color because it signals peace, purity and remembrance. Soft pink and lavender feel gentle and personal. Red expresses deep love and respect, often from close family. Yellow and bright mixes suit a celebration of life or a person known for their warmth.
What funeral flower colors say
Use color to match the message to the person you are honoring.
White
Peace, purity and remembrance. The safest choice for any faith or relationship.
Pink and lavender
Grace, admiration and gentle love. Often chosen for a mother, grandmother or friend.
Red
Deep love and respect. Common from a spouse, partner or child.
Yellow and bright
Friendship, hope and a life celebrated. Best for a celebration of life.
Want help matching flowers to the setting and your relationship? Read our guide on how to choose sympathy flowers.
Which funeral arrangement fits your relationship?
Immediate family usually orders the casket spray. Close relatives and friends often send standing sprays, wreaths, hearts or crosses to the service. Coworkers and groups can share one standing tribute. If you are sending to the family’s home, choose a vase arrangement or a plant they can keep.
Match the tribute to your relationship
A simple guide to who usually sends what.
Ordering a casket spray without asking the family. The immediate family usually arranges it, and two casket sprays cannot share one casket. Check with them first, or send a standing spray instead.
You can see every style, from casket sprays to standing wreaths, on our sympathy and funeral flowers in Redwood City page.
Customs to check before you send flowers
Read the obituary or service notice first. Many families ask for donations “in lieu of flowers.” Some faiths also have their own customs. Most rabbis discourage flowers at Jewish funerals, so a charity donation or a meal for the family is often the kinder gesture.
You can read more in this guide to Jewish funeral customs from My Jewish Learning. In Chinese and many Buddhist traditions, white and yellow flowers are common while bright red is usually avoided. Christian and Catholic services generally welcome flowers, including crosses.
Timing is more flexible than most people think. The Emily Post Institute’s sympathy flower etiquette notes there are no fixed rules on timing and suggests sending as soon as you can. Some close friends also send flowers to the home in the weeks after the service, when the house goes quiet.
Not sure about the family’s customs? A simple white arrangement sent to their home is respectful in almost every tradition. It also gives them flowers to enjoy after the service ends.
How to send funeral flowers in Redwood City
Order online from our sympathy collection or call 650-587-5254. For same-day delivery, order by 3:00 PM Monday to Friday or by 12:30 PM on Saturday, Pacific Time. We are closed on Sundays. Have the venue address, the name of the person being honored and the service date and time ready.
When to order funeral flowers
The earlier you order, the more design choices you have.
Now the detail most senders forget: the service start time. Funeral flowers should be in place before visitation begins, not arrive during the service. Add the start time and any receiving instructions to your order, and we will plan delivery around it.
We deliver from our shop at 440 Woodside Road to funeral homes, churches and family homes across Redwood City and our nearby Peninsula delivery areas. Cutoff times can change around holidays, so call us for urgent orders.
Ready to choose? Explore our sympathy floral arrangements or learn more about funeral flower delivery in Redwood City.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular flower for a funeral?
White lilies are the most traditional funeral flower in the United States. They stand for purity and peace and often rest on the casket. Roses are the other classic choice because their color lets you choose the message, from white for purity to red for love.
What flower represents death?
No single flower means death everywhere. In much of Europe and East Asia, chrysanthemums are the flower of funerals and graves. In the Victorian language of flowers, dark crimson roses signal mourning. In the United States, white lilies are the flower most linked with funerals.
What flowers should you not send to a funeral?
Skip flowers if the notice says “in lieu of flowers” or the family follows Jewish custom. Avoid bright red for Chinese and many Buddhist families. Save loud, festive mixes for a celebration of life. When unsure, a white arrangement sent to the home is the safest choice.
What color flowers are best for a funeral?
White is the best and most traditional color for a funeral because it signals peace and remembrance. Pink and lavender feel gentle and personal. Red shows deep love, often from close family. Yellow and bright colors suit a celebration of life.
Should I send flowers to the funeral home or the family’s home?
Send standing sprays, wreaths, hearts and crosses to the funeral home or place of worship. Send vase arrangements and plants to the family’s home, where they can enjoy them after the service. Always check the obituary first for any requests from the family.
Can I get same-day funeral flower delivery in Redwood City?
Yes. Order by 3:00 PM Monday to Friday or by 12:30 PM on Saturday, Pacific Time, for same-day delivery in Redwood City. We are closed on Sundays and cutoffs change around holidays. For urgent service times, call 650-587-5254.
What should I write on a funeral flower card?
Keep the message short and sincere, such as “With heartfelt sympathy” or “Thinking of you and your family.” Add your full name or your group’s name so the family knows who sent the flowers and who to thank.
Honor them with flowers made by local florists
Casket sprays, standing wreaths and sympathy arrangements, designed in Redwood City and delivered same day when you order before the cutoff.
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