Choosing the right flowers for a funeral can feel overwhelming - but it’s also one of the most meaningful ways to show love, respect, and comfort. At Lime Tree Bower, we’ve created this Sydney-focused guide to help you understand what kind of flowers to send, what different colours mean, and how to choose the most thoughtful funeral arrangement.
What Kind of Flowers Do You Send for a Funeral?
Each floral tribute serves a different purpose in honouring a loved one’s life.
Here are the most common types used for funerals and memorials:
- Traditional wreaths - Circular in shape, symbolising eternity. Usually placed at the service or graveside.
- Casket sprays - Designed to sit on top of the casket; typically chosen by the immediate family.
- Standing sprays & sheafs - Tall designs that create presence at the chapel or crematorium.
- Bouquets & vase arrangements - Flexible tributes that can later be taken home as a keepsake.
- Native or modern tributes - Less traditional, often reflecting a love of Australian flora or a more contemporary design aesthetic.
- Everlasting tributes for pets - A beautiful keepsake to cherish your furry best friend forever.
Browse our Sympathy & Funeral Flowers Collection to view design offerings available for Sydney delivery or pickup.
What Colour Flowers Are Appropriate for Funerals?
Colours carry visual symbolism and can be a beautiful tie-in to evoke the character and preferences of the deceased. What was their favourite colour, or what colour did they love wearing?
Some families choose colours that reflect a favourite shade or football team - it doesn’t have to be traditional-white.
Here’s what each tone traditionally represents:
- White: purity, peace, and remembrance - the most classic, timeless choice.
- Soft pastels: gentleness and sympathy, ideal for condolences.
- Red: deep love and courage.
- Yellow: friendship, warmth, and remembrance.
- Australian natives: strength, resilience, and natural beauty - perfect for more modern memorials.
Types of Funeral Flowers & Their Meanings
Not all flowers are created equal when it comes to meaning. Some of the most requested choices in Sydney include:
- Lilies: purity and the soul’s return to peace
- Roses: love, gratitude, remembrance
- Orchids: everlasting love and beauty
- Chrysanthemums: a traditional funeral flower symbolising grief and honour.
- Carnations: admiration and eternal remembrance.
- Australian natives: strength, connection to country, individuality.
Seasonal availability matters too. While imported flowers are possible year-round, they can increase costs - we’ll always advise you on what’s in season locally and design with freshness in mind.
How to Choose the Right Funeral Flowers in Sydney
When deciding which flowers to send, consider these key factors:
- Your relationship to the deceased - family, friend, or colleague?
- Cultural or religious traditions - some prefer white or specific flower types.
- Venue - church, crematorium, or private service.
- Timing - confirm service times early to ensure prompt delivery.
How Can You Personalise Funeral Flowers or Create Keepsakes From Them Afterwards?
The most meaningful tributes reflect the person themselves! You might choose to:
- Incorporate their favourite flowers or colours.
- Use native flora that nods to their heritage or love of the outdoors.
- Create eco-conscious designs with seasonal, locally-grown preferred flowers.
- Add a sympathy greeting card, potted orchid gift plant, or a small gift bouquet for the family to take home afterwards.
Some families also choose dried flower keepsakes - a lasting reminder beyond the service.
Funeral Flowers Delivery Etiquette & Tips
Funerals often come together quickly, and we understand how important it is for flowers to arrive on time and beautifully presented. Here’s what to keep in mind when organising delivery:
Timing:
We recommend placing your order at least 5–6 days in advance, especially if you’re after something bespoke or highly customised. The more notice you give your florist, the better the arrangement design will be, as they can help source more tailored flowers to your preferences rather than simply using what they might already have. Once you know the service date, we strongly recommend reaching out to your florist to obtain a quote before booking.
Details to confirm:
Be sure to share the service date and time, full venue address (chapel, crematorium, church, or graveside), venue access times for delivery, and the name of the deceased. These details help ensure smooth and timely delivery.
Where we deliver:
Our team regularly delivers across Sydney to funeral homes, churches, crematoriums and private residences. Every arrangement is styled and ready to be placed with dignity and care - complete with ribbon details and a personalised card message if requested.
Final delivery reminders:
- Confirm the ceremony start time and address before booking.
- For family homes, include a heartfelt message or sympathy card.
- Always provide a contact name and phone number to ensure the delivery driver can reach someone if needed.
- Same-day delivery is available across Sydney for orders placed before 12:30 pm.
Cost Expectations & Budgeting
Prices for funeral flowers in Sydney will vary depending on size, detail, flower choice and of course, the florist you choose. As a ballpark range:
- Floral wreaths typically range between $200–$500.
- Casket sprays from $300–$800.
- Bouquets & vase tributes from $100 upwards.
Costs increase with volume & size, premium/import blooms, and/or urgent timeframes. Don't forget to factor in delivery as well, in addition to the floral design costs. If budget is a concern, we can advise on ways to create something beautiful and intentional without compromising sentiment.
What Questions Should You Ask Your Sydney Funeral Florist?
When you’re ready to order, it helps to have a few things clear:
- Your approximate spend range.
- Any flowers or colours you’d like included — or avoided.
- The service location, date and time.
- Whether you’d like any finishing touches, such as a personalised note or ribbon detail.
Our role in these moments is to translate those details into a floral tribute that feels right for your loved one - a design that honours their life with care and meaning.
We understand how difficult it can be to plan a farewell while navigating loss and grief. Our small Sydney team is compassionate, calm, and here to guide you with both empathy and expertise. There’s no such thing as a silly question - please just ask.
Browse our Funeral & Sympathy Flowers Collection for ready-to-order tributes, or speak with our floral team to design something personal and intentional for your family.
