• White lilies express sympathy and easily combine with other blooms.lily image by Maciej Syrek from Fotolia.com
  
  When a loss is too great to express in words, you still can express your condolences to others with flowers. This is especially appropriate at events such as funerals, but sending condolence flowers suits any event that has caused grief. Each flower has a specific meaning, however, so you must be careful to select flowers that send the right message.
  
  

Hyacinth

• Hyacinth has leaves that resemble tulip leaves. Like tulips, hyacinths have single stems on which the flowers bloom. The flowers closely resemble lilacs. Purple hyacinths in particular represent sorrow. White hyacinths convey that you will pray for the recipient, while blue hyacinths get across sincerity. You can send these colors alone, but the combined meaning of the hues will have deeper connotations.
  
  

Marjoram

• Marjoram is a perennial herb compared to oregano and thyme. It is a fragrant plant in the mint family. The flowers are pink to lavender in color. Marjoram does not convey sorrow, but relays comfort and consolation. It thus is a good flower to combine with other condolence flowers, as it indicates you will be there for the recipient through their grief and reminds the recipient that the hardship will pass.
  
  

Snowdrop

• Snowdrops are small, delicate plants of only 6 inches in height. The flowers turn downward, with the three petals looking like an open bell. Like marjoram, snowdrops convey consolation. They also convey hope. Send these interspersed in your bouquet, as their small size means a lot of them would be necessary to be dramatic. A single snowdrop is perfect for drying and placing inside a sympathy card.
  
  

Thrift

• Thrifts are a small variety of phlox; they reach only 6 inches tall. These flowers represent sympathy. They come in red, blue, white and pink, but because blue traditionally represents peace in the language of flowers, blue thrifts are the best choice.
  
  

White Stargazer Lilies

• White stargazer lilies are good choices for tall condolence bouquets. They mean deep sympathy. You can combine these dramatic flowers with other white flowers--white orchids mean you are thinking of and care about the recipient and thus are good companions. Alternately, send white lilies with deep red roses; deep red roses usually convey deep love, but they can convey deep sympathy, as well. Sprinkling many colors of roses with your lilies gets across the mixture of emotions you may feel during the period of grief.
  
  

Other Flowers

• Although flower experts assign general meanings to flowers, you also can do this individually. If you know that the recipient attaches a certain emotion to a flower, or that the flower was the favorite of the recipient or person who has passed on, then that flower is appropriate for condolence. Any flower that is known to last for a long period after cutting also may be appropriate, as it can send the message that your friendship and comfort are sustainable and dependable.