Sympathy Plants: The Lasting Tribute

If you’re looking for a sympathy gesture that outlives the service and becomes a continuing tribute to the deceased, a living plant is one of the most meaningful choices you can make. Sympathy plants are often more remembered, more cared for, and more emotionally meaningful than cut flowers — particularly when sent to the family’s home.

This guide covers the best plants for sympathy gestures, their care, and when each is the right choice.

Why Sympathy Plants?

Cut flowers last 5-10 days. Sympathy plants can last months, years, or in some cases decades. For many bereaved families, the sympathy plant that arrives during a hard time becomes a quiet ongoing presence — watered, repotted, and remembered for years afterward.

Plants are particularly appropriate:

• For delivery to the family’s home rather than the funeral
• For families who appreciate gardening or houseplants
• For Jewish families during shiva, where cut flowers are not traditional but plants often are
• For the bereaved who will appreciate a long-lasting gesture more than a brief floral one
• For senders who want a more substantive gesture for their money — a $60 plant lasts and is remembered; a $60 bouquet is gone in a week

The Best Sympathy Plants

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

The classic sympathy plant. Glossy dark green leaves with elegant white “spathe” flowers that resemble lilies. Hardy, low-maintenance, and beautiful.

• Care: Low to medium light, watered weekly. Forgiving.
• Symbolism: Peace, purity, rebirth — all themes meaningful at funeral context
• Price range: $40-$100 depending on size
• Why it’s #1: The peace lily is the safest, most universally appropriate sympathy plant. Send one and you cannot go wrong.

Orchid (Phalaenopsis)

Elegant, premium plant with long-lasting blooms (often 2-3 months per bloom cycle). Phalaenopsis (“moth orchid”) is the most common and most forgiving variety.

• Care: Medium light, watered weekly with a few ice cubes or a small amount of water. Surprisingly easy.
• Symbolism: Elegance, refinement
• Price range: $50-$150
• When to send: Particularly appropriate for the loss of an elegant or refined person; for senders who want a premium gesture

Dish garden

A mixed planting of several small plants in a single low dish or ceramic container. Combines greens (philodendron, pothos, ivy) with sometimes a small flowering plant.

• Care: Easy, depending on plant mix. Most are low-maintenance.
• Symbolism: Variety and continuing life
• Price range: $50-$120
• When to send: When you want a substantial-feeling gesture; particularly good for families with multiple members

Anthurium

Tropical plant with shiny dark green leaves and bright red, pink, or white “flowers” (actually modified leaves called spathes). Striking and long-lasting.

• Care: Medium light, watered when soil is dry on top. Easy.
• Symbolism: Hospitality, warmth
• Price range: $50-$100
• When to send: For the loss of someone who loved warmth and color; appropriate from close family

Bonsai

A small ornamental tree, often juniper, ficus, or jade. Premium and unusual sympathy gesture.

• Care: Specific watering schedule, some technical knowledge required
• Symbolism: Patience, longevity, contemplation
• Price range: $75-$200
• When to send: For senders who want a distinctive premium gesture; for families who would appreciate the tradition and care involved

Memorial tree (delivered as a sapling)

Some sympathy services deliver a young tree (lilac, dogwood, magnolia) ready to plant in the family’s yard. A permanent tribute.

• Care: Requires outdoor planting and ongoing care
• Symbolism: Lasting memorial
• Price range: $75-$200
• When to send: For families with outdoor space who would appreciate a permanent memorial; check that they have suitable yard space before sending

Pothos or other “easy” green plant

A trailing vine plant that thrives on neglect. The right choice when you’re not sure the family wants the maintenance responsibility of a high-care plant.

• Care: Very low maintenance. Tolerates low light and irregular watering.
• Symbolism: Continuing life
• Price range: $40-$80
• When to send: When the family is not particularly into plants and you want a low-maintenance option

What to Avoid

Some plants that are NOT good sympathy choices:

• Cut flowering plants that drop heavily (like cyclamen) — high maintenance, short bloom period
• Plants that smell strongly — can be overwhelming in a small space
• Plants requiring specific climate control (orchids of exotic types, carnivorous plants) — too demanding
• Plants with thorns or sharp leaves (cacti, large succulents with spines) — wrong tone for sympathy

Color Conventions

For sympathy plants, white and green-dominant is the most traditional and universally appropriate. Peace lilies (white spathes) and dish gardens with white-blooming accents fit this convention perfectly.

For premium sympathy gestures, white orchids are the most refined choice.

For the loss of an older person where the family has signaled a celebration of life, brighter accents (red anthuriums, pink orchids) are appropriate.

Where to Order Sympathy Plants

The major online florist networks all offer sympathy plants, but specialty plant services often have better selection and quality:

• The Sill (thesill.com) — premium houseplants, beautiful presentation, good sympathy section
• Bloomscape — high-quality plants delivered well-packaged
• 1-800-Flowers / Teleflora / FromYouFlowers / ProFlowers — convenient and reliable, broad selection of basic sympathy plants
• Local florists — often have the best peace lilies and dish gardens; check Google Maps for “florist near [recipient’s home]”
• Plants.com — broad selection, including premium options
• A Living Tribute / Trees for a Change — for memorial tree deliveries

Timing

Sympathy plants don’t have the same urgent timing as funeral home arrangements. They can arrive:

• The day of or after hearing the news — gentle initial gesture
• A few days into the mourning period — particularly appropriate for shiva
• One to three weeks after the funeral — often the most meaningful timing
• On the anniversary of the loss for very close relationships — a small replacement plant is a deeply thoughtful gesture for the bereaved who is observing the anniversary

Pricing

Most sympathy plants sent fall in the $50-$100 range. Premium plants (orchids, bonsai, large dish gardens) run $100-$200. Basic peace lilies start around $40.

For the value: a $60 peace lily that lasts 5+ years is remembered far longer than $60 of cut flowers that last a week. For most senders, a sympathy plant is the best dollar-for-dollar gesture you can make.

What to Write on the Card

For sympathy plants, the card is typically a brief warm note rather than the formal phrasings appropriate for funeral home arrangements:

“With deepest sympathy. May this plant be a small comfort during a difficult time. Thinking of you and your family. — [Your name]”

“In loving memory of [Name]. Thinking of you. — [Your name]”

“[Family member’s name] — Holding you close during this hard time. — [Your name]”

A Final Note

Sympathy plants are particularly appropriate for delivery to the home, particularly meaningful when you can’t attend a service, and particularly memorable for the bereaved. For many sympathy gestures, a sympathy plant is the right answer — more lasting, more personal, and more remembered than cut flowers.

For the broader basics, see our complete guide to sending funeral flowers.