The Language of Flowers & Sympathy Card Messages

The Language of Flowers

Roses represent love, happiness, hope and new beginnings. White roses express reverence, innocence and youthfulness; Red roses convey respect, love and courage; Pink roses signify love, grace and gentility; Crimson roses denote grief and sorrow; and yellow represents friendship.

Lilies represent the restored innocence of the soul of the departed, majesty and purity.

Carnations represent devotion and remembrance. White carnations convey pure love and innocence; red carnations represent admiration; and pink carnations stand for remembrance. If the deceased was Catholic or Christian, it may be appropriate to send pink carnations because it is believed that the Virgin Mary created these flowers with her tears.

Gerbera represent innocence and purity.

Gladioli – Tall and majestic, gladioli convey strength of character, moral integrity and sincerity.

Orchids – Pink and white are traditional orchid colours used to express one’s sympathy and typically represent eternal love. Phalaenopsis and dendrobium orchids are generally the most appropriate types of orchids used as sympathy flowers.

Chrysanthemums – One of the most popular funeral flowers is the chrysanthemum. The meaning behind these flowers varies depending on the country. For example, people in Asian countries such as Korea and Japan view the chrysanthemum as a symbol of death and grief. In the UK, chrysanthemums are seen as a symbol of truth. Regardless of where you live, this is a great choice for funeral flowers and is often included in floral arrangements with other popular flowers.

Violets were used throughout literature, including in Shakespeare’s Ophelia, to symbolize a death that came too soon. If a loved one passed away unexpectedly at a young age, it maybe appropriate to incorporate violets into the funeral flowers.

Forget Me Nots – Choose forget me nots if you would like to tell the deceased that you will always remember him and that he will live on in your memories forever.

Camellia flowers are breathtakingly beautiful because of their delicate petals and elegance. This flower symbolises perfection, refinement and excellence. It is ideal for funerals of those you admired or truly respected.