The 5 best flowers for graves in winter

With 22.2k average monthly searches across the UK, winter heather is a popular choice for long-lasting graveside arrangements. Heather is perfect for harsh winters as it can tolerate temperatures as low as -10°C to -15°C, making it very frost-resistant and ideal for British winters.

Heather works well both as stand-alone potted plants or in grave compositions such as bouquets or wreaths. The blooms of heather are made up of small bells, opening in purples, pinks, and whites. The bright colours of heather help to add colour to arrangements during the colder months, and they have a special symbolism too. 

Heather is said to symbolise good luck, admiration, and protection, making it an excellent choice for commemorating lost loved ones.

Cyclamen is a charming tuberous perennial that brings colour when few other plants are in bloom, especially in late winter or early spring. With 14.8k average monthly searches across the UK, cyclamen is the second most popular winter flower. 

Hardy cyclamen species and varieties are perfect for naturalising beneath trees, on slopes, or in shaded borders. They pair beautifully with other early-flowering woodland plants like snowdrops, winter aconites, and primroses.

The third most searched-for winter flower is snowdrops, with 9.9k average monthly searches across the UK. Snowdrops are one of the earliest bloomers of the year, you can plant dry bulbs throughout October and November for flowering in January or February. 

They are hardy and often push through the winter frost and snow. Their white, nodding flowers symbolise hope and peace, making them fit for a graveside.

Hellebores, also known as the ‘Christmas Rose’, are the fourth most searched-for winter flower with 8.1k average monthly searches across the UK. 

They bloom from late autumn through winter and come in a variety of colours like white, pink or ruby. They can tolerate temperatures as low as -15°C to -20°C, and their sturdy flowers with evergreen foliage are a bonus, making them well-suited for winter climates.

The Christmas Rose holds historical and symbolic connections to remembrance, peace, and protection. Its resilience and ability to bloom during the coldest months make it a symbol of eternal life, hope, and love that endures beyond death, making it especially suitable for a grave setting.

Pansies are the fifth most popular winter flowers with 5.4k average monthly searches across the UK. They are frost-resistant and can bloom even during the cold months surviving in temperatures as low as -7°C to -15°C. 

Winter flowering pansies can add a cheerful touch to a graveside and come in a range of colours from purple, yellow, white, blue, and multicoloured varieties.

Did you know the name ‘pansy’ comes from the French word ‘pensée’, meaning ‘thought’? As a result, pansies are often associated with remembrance, making them a poignant symbol for honouring the memory of loved ones at graves.

While many people will leave flowers and wreathes at their loved ones’ graves over the winter period, it can sometimes be difficult to find the time to return soon after the occasion to tend to the bouquets and wreaths laid. 

Anyone who keeps flowers in their home will know that even when left in a vase, they only have a limited shelf life - even with proper care. So, what can you do to help graveside winter flowers last longer when outside? Euroflorist shares their top three expert tips: 

1. Put them in floral foam or a vase

If you simply lay a bouquet over your loved one’s grave, the flowers won’t last very long without a water source. Instead, you can try placing your flowers in a well-soaked floral form, or a vase that is appropriate for outside conditions. 

If you’re leaving a wreath at your loved ones’ grave, try soaking the base of the wreath in water before you lay it.

2. Use an anti-transpirant spray

Anti-transpirant plant sprays work to protect plants from weather conditions, helping them to retain water. 

If you’re not able to get back to your loved one’s grave over the winter period to tend to the flowers, these sprays are a great way to help the flowers and foliage last even longer.

3. Choose a potted plant or plant flowers around the grave 

You can choose to celebrate the life of your loved one at any point of the year, and if you can’t make it to their grave frequently, you could leave a potted plant instead. If you choose the plant carefully, this could be something low-maintenance that you only need to look after from time to time. 

Similarly, some cemeteries will allow you to plant things like winter flowering shrubs and flowers on or around your loved one’s grave. This can be a wonderful way to show your year-round appreciation for them and will have a longer-lasting effect than bouquets and wreaths.