The short answer: send flowers to the funeral home for the visitation or service, and send a plant, or a vase arrangement, to the family's home. Funeral flowers are made to be displayed during the service and honour the person who has died. A plant is a gift for the family that lasts well beyond the funeral, and many people keep one for years as a living reminder.
Both are thoughtful. The right choice depends on where the gift is going, when it will arrive, and how well you know the family.
When flowers are the better choice
Flowers are the traditional tribute at a visitation, funeral or memorial service. They are designed to stand beside the casket or urn, frame a photo, or fill the room with colour while people gather.
- For the service itself. A standing spray on an easel, a wreath or a vase arrangement is made to be seen in a chapel. A plant can look small in a large room.
- From a group. Co-workers, neighbours and teams often send one larger tribute together, and flowers suit that role well.
- From close family. A casket spray is usually chosen by the immediate family. Other relatives often send a wreath or a standing spray.
Flowers sent to the funeral home should arrive before the visitation begins. When you order, include the full name of the person who has passed and the date and time of the visitation or service. Browse our sympathy and funeral flowers for every type of tribute.
When a plant is the better choice
A plant is often the more personal gift when you are sending to the family directly. A few situations where it works especially well:
- Sending to the home. After the funeral, the house can fill with cut flowers that all fade in the same week. A plant keeps going after the bouquets are gone.
- Sending later. If you hear the news weeks after the service, a plant is a gentle way to say you are still thinking of them, without needing to match the timing of the funeral.
- A small service or a private family gathering. When the family has asked for a quiet service, a plant at home is a respectful way to show you care.
- A lasting memory. Many families keep a sympathy plant for years, and some plant it outdoors or repot it in memory of the person they lost.
Which plants suit a sympathy gift?
Look for a plant that is graceful, calm and easy to care for. The family will have a lot on their minds, so low care matters.
- Orchids. White phalaenopsis orchids are elegant, quiet and long lasting, with blooms that can stay for weeks. The White Orchid Planter is a simple single orchid, and our planter gardens pair orchids with other plants. See all orchids, and our guide on how to care for an orchid if you would like to pass on a few tips.
- Green plants and planter gardens. Leafy plants such as sansevieria need very little attention, which suits a busy, grieving household.
- Succulent gardens. Compact, tidy and forgiving, they are a good choice for a condo, an office or someone who has never kept a plant.
Browse our plants and succulents for planters and gardens that can go straight to the family's home.
Can you send a plant to the funeral home?
Yes. Plants are welcome at many visitations, and families often take them home afterwards. If you would like your gift to be part of the display, a larger planter garden stands up better in a chapel than a single small pot. If you are unsure, a vase arrangement is a good middle ground: it looks right at the service, and the family can take it home too. Our sympathy arrangements include vase and basket designs.
Colours and tone
White and green are the most traditional sympathy colours, and they suit both plants and flowers. Soft pastels are also fitting, and brighter colours can be right for a celebration of life when the family has asked for one. If you knew the person well, choosing their favourite flower or colour is a lovely personal touch. Our white flowers include sprays and vase designs.
What to write on the card
A short, sincere message is best. "Thinking of you all, with love" or "With deepest sympathy, and fond memories of your mother" says more than a long note. For more ideas, read what to write on a sympathy card. Every order from us includes a free handwritten card.
Ordering from Mystic Flowers
Every sympathy arrangement is hand-arranged in our Mississauga studio, and we deliver to funeral homes and family homes across the GTA. Delivery is free on orders over $50. If you are not sure whether to send flowers or a plant, call our studio at 905-677-9999 and we will help you choose.