Sending living plants as tributes to the bereaved is a long-standing tradition, offering a lasting symbol of remembrance. These “funeral plants” are typically chosen for their hardiness, ease of indoor care, and ability to thrive in a home environment. The selection is usually limited to resilient species appropriate for a potted display, which makes identification and care more manageable for the recipient.
Identifying Common Foliage Plants
Foliage plants are chosen for a lasting green tribute, with their leaves providing the main visual interest. The Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum, is the most recognized, identified by its deep green, glossy leaves that have a distinctly ribbed texture. The leaves are typically ovate-lanceolate and grow upward in basal rosettes, giving the plant a lush, clumping appearance. Its unique “flower” is a white, modified leaf, called a spathe, which curves around a central spike of tiny flowers, the spadix.
The Parlor Palm, Chamaedorea elegans, is recognized by its slender, cane-like stems and delicate, pinnately compound fronds. These fronds are lacy and compact, growing in a clustered habit that gives the plant an elegant, airy texture. The Parlor Palm is slow-growing and remains relatively small indoors, rarely exceeding four feet in height.
The Boston Fern, Nephrolepis exaltata, is identified by its long, arching fronds, which can reach up to three feet in length, creating a fountain-like shape. Each frond is pinnately compound, divided into numerous small leaflets called pinnae. Close inspection may reveal small, round, brown dots called sori on the underside of the pinnae, which are the plant’s spore-producing structures. The leaflets are linear-oblong and often have an asymmetrical base, contributing to the plant’s feathery appearance.
Identifying Common Flowering Plants
Plants chosen for their vibrant blooms form the second major category of funeral tributes, offering bursts of color and texture. The Chrysanthemum, often simply called a Mum, is a composite flower recognized by its densely packed inflorescence, a single head composed of many tiny florets. Blooms appear in a wide array of shapes, including pom-pom, decorative, and spider forms. Potted varieties are often white, yellow, or pink, and the plant’s deeply lobed leaves emit a distinct, somewhat spicy aroma when brushed.
The potted Hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla, is distinguishable by its large, dense, rounded flower clusters, which can be up to six inches in diameter. The showy, “petal-like” parts of the bloom are actually sepals, and their color is a strong clue for identification. Blue or pink blooms indicate the macrophylla species, where color is determined by soil acidity; acidic soil produces blue flowers, while alkaline soil yields pink ones. The clusters are either “mophead” (mostly showy sterile sepals) or “lacecap” (a flat center of tiny fertile flowers surrounded by a ring of larger sterile ones).
Azaleas, belonging to the genus Rhododendron, are identified by their masses of trumpet or funnel-shaped flowers, often with ruffled or wavy margins. A key structural identifier is the number of stamens—most Azalea flowers possess five, differentiating them from their Rhododendron relatives. These plants come in a variety of flower forms, including the “hose-in-hose,” where the sepals have developed into a second layer of petals. Their leaves are small, often pointed, and may have a fine layer of hairs along the midrib on the underside.
Cultural Significance and Identification Clues
The underlying reasons for a plant’s selection can narrow down its potential identity. Plants are chosen because they align with themes of peace, eternity, or remembrance, offering a final layer of identification context. For example, a plant symbolizing peace and purity strongly suggests the Spathiphyllum, or Peace Lily, due to its white, sail-like spathe.
The presence of a potted palm often relates to the ancient symbolism of the palm branch, which signifies victory over death and eternity. If the plant is an intensely colored, robustly flowering Mum, its identity is often confirmed by the cultural association of Chrysanthemums with mourning in many European traditions. These symbolic meanings serve as a final check, linking the plant’s appearance to its traditional role as a commemorative gift.