Flowers mirror our own short lives: blossom, seed, die. Their fragrance and vitality at funerals, once practical is now decorative and symbolic of life and nature.

Lush lily sprays, rambling rose wreaths, primrose posies, bouquets and baskets, wild flower posies. Whether elegant, loud, proud old DAD shape or a poignant cushion or pillow, flowers tend to the be tribute of choice – not just for the family who decorate the coffin, but for supporting kith and kin attending. If you can’t be there but your thoughts are, flowers are often the way to say it.

If you use a funeral director, s/he can provide a list of who sent flowers – helpful if you want to thank people later and one thing less for you to deal with at the time.

• You can ask everyone to bring a sunflower, a single red rose, a wildflower posy, wear a buttonhole bloom.
• You can take floral tributes home.
• You can say you don’t want flowers and invite donations to a special cause.
• You can opt for sculptural decoration or environmental art instead.

There are a couple environmental issues worth considering. Flowers are often flown in or transported from Holland – not great for your carbon footprint. If you want flowers for a graveside, don’t leave them cellophane-wrapped flowers at a graveside. It’s bad for the environment.

 

The history of funeral flowers

Flowers have been part of our death rituals for at least 13,000 years. The remains of fragrant blooms were found in Stone Age Natufian graves in the eastern Mediterranean. See more on rituals here. Browse the Marketplace for flowers.