The tradition of funeral flowers is something that can be traced back thousands of years where flowers were often used to adorn the body of the deceased.
Flowers are seen as a symbol of hope and renewal, providing an uplifting display of colour at what is the saddest of occasions, so choosing the most appropriate floral tribute to the deceased is something that you will want to take some time to consider.
Their favourite flowers
The deceased may have been a keen gardener and, if so, it is highly likely that they would have expressed a preference for a particular flower with close family or friends. This may be reflected in photos that they had taken or by the gardening books they kept. They may even have left notes in certain pages marking particular varieties that they liked.
Where it is not possible to determine if the deceased liked a particular type of flower, you may want to consider flowers that match their favourite colour. If the deceased was a big sports fan then it could be that flowers in the colour of their favourite team would be appropriate.
Birth Flowers
Another way to choose funeral flowers could be to opt for those that reflect the month that the deceased was born.
- Carnation: the birth flower for January. Carnations stand for distinction, fascination and love.
- Iris: the birth flower for February. Iris stands for hope and faith, valour and wisdom.
- Daffodil: the birth flower of March. The daffodil stands for unrequited love.
- Daisy: the birth flower of April. The daisy stands for purity.
- Lily: the birth flower of May. White lilies stand for purity and virginity.
- Rose: the birth flower of June. Red roses stand for love and respect.
- Delphinium: the birth flower of July. Delphinium stands for purity and truthfulness.
- Gladiola: the birth flower of August.Gladiola stands for sincerity.
- Aster: the birth flower of September. Aster stands for sincerity.
- Marigold: the birth flower of October. Marigold stands for positivity.
- Chrysanthemum: the birth flower of November. Chrysanthemum stands for happiness and optimism.
- Poinsettia: the birth flower of December. Poinsettia stands for good cheer and merriment.
Arrangement styles
Triangular, fan-shaped designs and sprays remain the most popular but there really are no rules. Just try to ensure that the deceased’s family will find the choice of arrangement appropriate.
- Casket Spray Usually ordered by the family, these are designed to go on the coffin.
- Wreath A traditional circular arrangement.
- Floral Arrangement A general mix of flowers contained within a vase or other container.
- Spray Usually placed on an easel stand and designed to be viewed from a particular angle.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your florist for advice. They will have dealt with these questions many times and will be sure to help you. They can also advise on arrangements for military funerals.
Reviewed by the Arranging a Funeral team - September 2026.
Common questions
How do we choose funeral flowers?
Think about the person's favourite flowers or colours, their team colours if they loved sport, or the flower for the month they were born.
What is a birth flower?
A flower linked to each month. For example, the rose for June and the daffodil for March.
Can I send flowers if the family has asked for donations?
Follow the family's wishes. If they've asked for no flowers, please don't send them. See [donations instead of flowers](/advice/arranging-a-funeral/donations-instead-of-flowers/).