When people think of what type of flowers to send to a funeral or wake, they would always think of words like beautiful and respectful. Indeed, pretty, dignified-looking flowers and arrangements are always appropriate at the solemn event.

Flowers carry significance at every stage of the life-cycle of humans, from birth through death. In the passing of someone, flowers are a traditional way to honour the deceased and are especially symbolic of the fragility of life and its fleeting nature.

Funeral flowers help in facilitating emotional release, as some mourners struggle to express their grief using words. The act of sending flowers is an expression of respect and love for the deceased, and of sympathy to his closest kin.

One of the first official records of flowers used at funerals was at the funeral of US President Andrew Jackson in 1874. Then, the flowers were used to mask the odour of the decomposition of his body.

However, earlier history has it that flowers were already used during the times of the Shanidar caves in Iraq, though the timeline remains iffy. At that time, a male Neanderthal skeleton was found in a fetal position, with pollen deposits from eight wildflowers surrounding it. Archaeologists suggest that that could have been from some 60,000 years ago.

In modern history, in the 19th century, “flower ladies” participated in funerals by carrying flowers from the funeral home to the procession, and were responsible for arranging them at the cemetery plot for the families. This was considered to be as important as the role of the pallbearers today.

Back to present times, where flowers are a quintessential part of funerals, and gifting flowers carry with it its own significance. What flowers exactly should you consider sending?

As many would know, different colours of flowers each hold different meanings or significance. Here’s a quick list of the common colours for funeral flowers, and what they represent:

In addition, each variety of flowers carry with them a special message. Here, we take a look at the types of flowers most often sent for the occasion and what meanings they each carry:

Dedicated funeral and sympathy flowers specialist SG Florist carries a wide range of flower types and colours, and offers a diverse selection of floral arrangements, for all your gifting needs for wakes and funerals.

Browse through the extensive online catalogue of floral options to pick one that suits your taste, or engage with floral specialists to assist you in creating a unique and personalised wreath or bouquet to gift.

Contact us today and allow us to share recommendations with you, or learn about our exclusive services at Nirvana Centers and our same-day delivery service.