Picking flowers that mean remembrance comes in handy when you’re looking to send an arrangement or fill up a bed in the garden in honor of a loved one, but which blooms work best here?
Cempoalxochitl, chrysanthemums, forget-me-nots, carnations, and poppies have deep cultural roots in funerals and memorials. Meanwhile, other flowers like tulips, rosemaries, and zinnias might reflect remembrance, depending on the context.
In this post, we’ll go over 15 flowers to consider for honoring people that are out of sight but still very much in our hearts.
Flowers That Mean Remembrance
Without further ado, let’s jump right into the top remembrance flowers for you to consider:
1. Cempoalxochitl Marigolds
If we could only have one flower to commemorate the dead, it’ll probably be the cempoalxochitl in bright orange.
After all, it’s widely known for its symbolization of death and remembrance in the Mexican Día de Los Muertos. You’ll see it everywhere during the festivities; altars, streets, and even works of art.
There’s just something captivating about the way that it reflects a longing for the ones long gone while celebrating their life!
However, this isn’t the only culture that saw the marigold as a flower of mourning and respect. In India, they’re also used to highlight strength and bravery in the memory of dead soldiers.
2. Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums can send a bunch of different messages depending on the context and cultural relevance.
For instance, some people might view them as a symbol of joy and friendship, especially the yellow one. Since the original cultivars were golden, the flower might even reflect good luck and prosperity in certain places.
Meanwhile, other cultures regard them as a symbol of death or reincarnation. For instance, the chrysanthemum is strictly a funeral flower for remembrance and mourning in France.
In November, the French carry floral arrangements with chrysanthemums to the graveyards. That’s one way to commemorate loved ones on the la Toussaint (Tous Les saints) or the Day of All Saints.
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3. Forget-Me-Nots
As the name suggests, the forget-me-not is a great flower to show that you deeply miss someone.
It’s not uncommon to see people adorning their clothes with the tiny blooms on Beaumont-Hamel’s Memorial day on July 1st to recall the brave Newfoundland soldiers.
Forget-me-nots aren’t only suitable for remembering the dead, though.
Using the forget-me-nots blossoms in letter seals is one extra way to reflect your longing for an absent friend or lover, too. You can do this the traditional way with a wax seal stamp or use stickers. Either way, it’ll make your envelope look charming!
4. Carnations
Whether pink, red, or yellow, carnation flowers are just a straightforward way to show that someone is well-loved and will be missed.
In most cases, the soft beauty of the flower reflects affection and devotion for a lost one. That’s why it’s not a stranger to funeral services and graveyards.
However, carnations are versatile, and some people use them for more joyous occasions, like weddings and graduations.
One thing to note here is that stripped cultivars usually have more negative connotations of rejection. So, it’s better to steer clear of them in floral arrangements to avoid sending the wrong message.
5. Milkweeds
The common milkweed is a tall and delicate-looking new world flower, usually pinkish in color. Mainly, it carries connotations of dignity and remembrance.
In a flower bed, the milkweeds might even attract the enchanting monarch butterflies. Keep in mind that these beauties are often associated with warriors finding their way back home.
Together, the flower and the butterfly might reflect broken connections with the hope of reuniting soon, so it’s not strictly for funerals. Instead, it represents the eagerness to reconnect with a loved one.
However, milkweed releases a toxic glycoside, and it’s not safe around pets.
6. Tulips
While tulips don’t particularly reflect a lost one’s memory, they do symbolize sympathy and hope in certain contexts. That’s why they could make a fitting arrangement for someone mourning to lift their spirits a little.
The white cultivars might also represent grace and elegance if these are features to highlight in the departed person. Meanwhile, the purple ones have an air of royalty.
However, it might be safer to go with a paler flower selection made mainly of white tulips for funeral services.
7. Poppies
Perhaps the most common flowers on Remembrance Day are the bright poppies. On this day, people use the poppies to honor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War.
This tradition traces all the way back to a touching poem called “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae.
However, it’s important to note that in most cases, these are actually artificial poppy flowers you’ll see on Remembrance Day.
The red poppy flower is associated with peaceful and eternal sleep. This might actually stem from the fact that poppies have sedating effects in medical fields.
8. Sea Lavenders
The sea lavender (also known as the statice or caspia) is a petite flower in deep purple. Generally speaking, the lacey bloom can show that someone’s on your mind and you’re wishing them the best.
Even when they dry out, the sea lavenders still hold on to their beautiful profile, so they won’t get thrown away as quickly as other floral arrangements. For this reason, they could be a suitable fit for garlands on memorial ceremonies.
As it happens, the seal lavender isn’t only great for symbolic remembrance. It also has a promising potential in slowing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s!
9. Gladioli
The bold gladiolus pairs themes of strength, courage, and remembrance. It’s a tough-looking flower, but getting it in white or yellow can turn down its fierceness a notch.
For the most part, the flower gets the connotation of strength from its naming origin. After all, the name roughly translates to “small sword” in Latin.
Suppose you’re looking for possible remembrance companions to go in the floral arrangement with the gladioli. In that case, you might want to consider other white flowers, like the larkspur, hydrangea, or even regular lilies. They all compliment each other’s profiles very well.
10. Lilies
White lilies are traditionally seen in close proximity to caskets and tombstones, especially in the United States. This is understandable since they can communicate purity, peace, and compassion.
All in all, they can make a simple yet thoughtful arrangement for remembering a lost one.
However, lily flowers aren’t pet-friendly in the least, and every part of the plant can be toxic to cats. So, you might want to be mindful about where you leave them out in the open.
Read more: 16 Flowers That Mean Forgiveness
11. Roses
Roses are very versatile flowers, and the pale-colored cultivars can often highlight the humility and purity in memory of loved ones.
On the other hand, using red roses at a funeral can be a little controversial. Some people will view them as an admiration of the deceased courage and passion, while others might deem them too bold for the occasion.
Similarly, pink roses are mostly considered too romantic to be effective remembrance flowers. So, you’ll probably want to tread carefully around those beauties.
12. Hala Leis
In Hawaiian culture, the hala or the ketaki tree flowers are handed out in funeral services to honor the deceased. They’re often made into traditional leis you can get from florists, though.
Alternatively, you can make your own if you have fresh hala flowers ready to go. All you need is a needle, lei twine, and some patience!
Much like the sea lavender, hala leis also dry well. So, you can easily preserve the flowers as a keepsake for a while.
13. Rosemary Flowers
While rosemary leaves are widely known as cooking herbs, not many people know that the flower is also a symbol of remembrance.
The rosemary flowers are typically a soft shade of purple or a bold red, and both are used for expressing grief.
Aside from floral arrangements, the sprig itself also has connotations of honoring the dead. For instance, in Australia, people wear rosemary sprigs with tiny blooms on their lapels on Anzac Day to commemorate the lost soldiers.
14. Pansies
A flower bed of pansies won’t reflect remembrance as much as rosemary. However, it could mean that you’ve got someone in your thoughts — at least that’s how Shakespear’s Ophiliea put it.
Generally, it might be a good flower to express your devotion to a loved one, whether they’re deceased or just out of sight.
Just keep in mind that pansies are more vibrant than most options on the list. So, you can use them in a less solemn context to avoid sending the wrong message.
15. Yellow Zinnias
Yellow zinnias hold a close resemblance to chrysanthemums, and they actually belong to the same botanical family. So, it’s not surprising to see them both reflecting similar symbolisms.
However, zinnias are slightly more joyful than your typical chrysanthemum arrangement without heavy death connotations.
That’s why they can be used to show remembrance and affection towards distant friends and family members.
Wrap Up
Floral arrangements aren’t always bubbly and cheerful. Sometimes, you’ll also need flowers that mean remembrance for the more solemn occasions.
Between the tender forget-me-not petals and the vibrant chrysanthemum or a cempoalxochitl, you have many options to choose from.
The key here is to pick the colors that match the tone and context!