When a friend, a loved one, or somebody you admire and respect is grieving, it can be difficult to know what you can do for them and where your boundaries lie. Unless you've experienced a similar loss, you won't have an understanding of their suffering, and you may feel useless. That doesn't mean you are, however. The best way to help those in mourning is to show that you care, and one of the simplest ways to do this is with flowers.
While there are a huge variety of flowers available to choose for a flower arrangement, in the case of a sympathy arrangement, not all flowers are created equal. Some are far more appropriate for the event than others, simply because flowers are used to express a sentiment without ever saying the words. You wouldn't want to send a bright, cheerful arrangement to a funeral, unless you had specific reason to do so and it was carefully thought out. That would be like telling the family of the deceased, "Hey, you're all right. Cheer up!" It wouldn't be appropriate, and it wouldn't properly express the concern you feel for the family.
For a sympathy flower arrangement there is not one single flower that is the most appropriate. However, there is a color. White flowers, regardless of the type, are the best flowers for a sympathy arrangement and should be included in most designs. They express a desire for peace for the deceased and peace for their family. They are also elegant and simple, and beautiful in that simplicity.
White may be the most appropriate color choice, but that doesn't mean it is the only appropriate element that can be added to an arrangement. There are a variety of flowers and colors that are not only beautiful, they are also wonderful representations of what we hope for the deceased, or of what the deceased embraced and exemplified in their lifetime. Lilies are a common, stunning sympathy flower. At a funeral they symbolize the deceased returning to innocence. White lilies are also a symbol of majesty and purity, two elements often represented at funerals. Carnations are another common sympathy flower. Red, pink, and white each have a different meaning. Red carnations show an admiration for the deceased, pink carnations symbolize remembrance, and white carnations are a symbol of pure love and innocence. These flowers embrace the thoughts, feelings, and hopes of the family of the departed.
Lilies and carnations are by no means the only flowers appropriate for a sympathy arrangement, however. Chrysanthemums, gladioli, and roses are all appropriate and are often included in these arrangements. White chrysanthemums represent lamentation, grief, and truth. In some cultures the chrysanthemum is a symbol of rest, while in others it represents death and is only appropriate at funerals. The gladiolus is a beautiful representation of strength of character and moral integrity, two aspects of the deceased that are often praised in remembrance. Gladioli add a unique touch to the arrangement. Pink, red, and white roses are the most commonly used in sympathy arrangements because between the three they are a symbol of love, gentility, respect, courage, humility, youthfulness, and reverence. When combined with other flowers they add a special touch and a special meaning to an already beautiful arrangement.
Any flower can be beautiful when remembering the deceased. Some are simply more suited to the occasion than others. A well thought out sympathy arrangement will include flowers that represent the character of the departed, and what he meant to those left behind. Other perfect flowers for these arrangements include cyclamens, which are a way to say goodbye, and forget-me-nots, which show that you really won't forget the person who has passed. With a flower arrangement you can truly show the family of the deceased that you care and that you are there for them.