Flowers are a tangible way to express sympathy to friends, family members, neighbors or co-workers who’ve lost a loved one. A condolence bouquet sends a heartfelt message and expresses your concern in a time of deep sadness. For many people, these gestures are more than just pretty arrangements—they're symbols of care and comfort.

Who should send sympathy flowers?

You may wonder whether it's appropriate to send sympathy flowers if you weren't especially close to the person who passed. The answer is almost yes. Condolence flowers are frequently welcome and appreciated.

Family and close friends

If you're a family member or close friend of the loved one who has died, you might choose to send a beautiful floral arrangement to the funeral or memorial service or graveside. A standing spray, heart-shaped wreath or standing floral cross are some popular options. A basket filled with flowers chosen for their meaning is a thoughtful choice.

Friends and acquaintances

If you're a friend or acquaintance of the person who has died, a bouquet sent to the funeral home or site of the life celebration event is very fitting. You might also consider sending a plant or flower arrangement to the family's home.

Co-workers

When someone from work or the close loved one of a co-worker passes away, a group gesture is often made to express condolences. A floral arrangement sent to the funeral home is common for either relationship. If you're especially close to the person who lost a loved one, it’s completely appropriate to send sympathy flowers to that person’s home.

When to send condolence flowers

Most condolence flowers are sent shortly after a person’s passing. However, you can send sympathy flowers weeks or months after the service, particularly if you weren’t immediately aware of the death. Grief can be a long and complex process. Receiving flowers after the service can reassure a family that they are still in your thoughts. A couple of ideas:

Holidays

Holidays and the deceased loved one’s birthday can be particularly difficult for survivors, especially during the first year. Sending a plant, bouquet or floral arrangement to their home acknowledges this and shows support. For example, if a friend lost their father, you might send them an arrangement on Father’s Day. If a close co-worker’s grandmother has passed, sending a poinsettia or bouquet before Christmas might lift their spirits.

Anniversaries

The anniversary of the person’s death can be quite challenging for loved ones as well. Sending sympathy flowers on a death anniversary is a beautiful way to remember the loved one and convey that you're thinking of someone on that important day. You might also consider sending a bouquet on a wedding anniversary.

What color condolence flowers should you send?

Many want their sympathy flowers to convey a specific message or honor a relationship in a personal way. Popular flowers with specific meanings and colors include lilies, roses, calla lilies, daffodils, chrysanthemums and orchids.

Color meanings may include white for purity and peace, red for love, yellow for happiness or hope and pink for appreciation. Keep in mind that flower and color meanings vary across religions and cultures.

What to write on a sympathy flowers card

It’s not always easy to know what to say to someone experiencing a loss, but it’s essential to include a sympathy message along with condolence flowers. You can write as much or as little as you’d like.

You might consider including a happy memory of the loved one or using a verse or poem to convey your emotions. But try not to worry about finding the “right” thing or the most creative thing to write—just focus on being sincere. A simple message of sympathy and support—such as “I’m so sorry for your loss. Please know that I’m here for you”—can mean more to a grieving person than you might realize.

What to send instead of condolence flowers

Customs around mourning and funeral flowers or sympathy gifts vary across religions and cultures, and sympathy flowers are not always an apt choice. For example, for Muslim or Jewish families, flowers are not generally an appropriate expression of sympathy. Instead, a basket of gourmet foods or a fruit bouquet may be a better choice. (You’ll also want to ensure that any edible gift sent to those of the Jewish or Islamic faiths contains only kosher or halal foods, respectively.)

In contrast, for Buddhist mourners, food gifts are not appropriate. Instead, condolences flowers are welcome but they should be white—the color associated with mourning for that religion.

Other preferences include sending sympathy flowers to the funeral home or delivering food gifts to the home for those of Roman Catholic and Hindu faiths. For the latter, food baskets with fruit or vegetables may be more suitable than those with meat, since families may be vegetarian or may not consume meat for a period of time after a death. To send flowers, call Teleflora at 800-546-9523.