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Long-lasting cemetery flowers: cut flowers and plants for every season
Sympathy and remembrance
Cut flowers, plants and formats that cope with the open air, all year round.
Raluca Ungureanu
Updated 14/10/2026 · 5 min read
At the cemetery, flowers live outdoors: cold in winter, full sun in summer, wind all year round. Not all of them cope in the same way, and not every format suits every grave. Here you will find the cut flowers and plants that last longest, season by season, and what to put in burial niches and in-ground graves.
The longest-lasting cut flowers
| Flower | Why it lasts |
|---|---|
| Chrysanthemums and santini | They withstand the cold and the first frosts; in cool weather they stay lovely for 1-2 weeks |
| Anthurium | The flower is thick and waxy, and suffers little outdoors |
| Protea and leucospermum | Compact, almost woody flowers that are barely affected by cold and wind |
| Cymbidium orchids | They last a long time in water and cope well with cool weather |
| Carnations | Sturdy and not delicate, a classic for remembrance |
| Limonium and helichrysum | They dry while keeping their shape and colour: these are the so-called everlastings |
The more delicate flowers, such as lilies, tulips, gerberas and ranunculus, last less: outdoors, with the night frost or the July sun, they hold up for only a few days.
Everlastings
Everlastings are flowers that dry on the stem without losing their shape and colour: limonium, also called statice, helichrysum and gypsophila. At the cemetery they are used on their own or among fresh flowers: when the fresh flowers wilt, the everlastings remain. Not to be confused with sempervivum, or houseleek, a small rosette-forming succulent whose name means almost the same thing: it copes well with sun and little water, and can be kept in a pot on the grave.
Plants that last, season by season
A potted plant lasts weeks or months if watered now and then, and it is the most practical choice for anyone who cannot visit often.
| Season | Plants that cope |
|---|---|
| Autumn and winter | Cyclamen, heather, potted chrysanthemums, pansies, hellebores (the Christmas rose) |
| Spring | Primroses, daisies, potted bulbs such as hyacinths and grape hyacinths |
| Summer | Geraniums, portulaca, succulents, lavender: they cope with sun and little water |
What to put in burial niches
The vase on a burial niche is small, narrow and often high up. What works best:
- tall, narrow bouquets of a few stems: three chrysanthemums, a stem of cymbidium, two or three anthuriums;
- compact flowers that do not shed petals or mark the stone;
- little greenery around them: a bouquet that is too wide bends or falls at the first gust of wind.
If the niche is under cover, in a gallery or a chapel, the flowers last longer because they are sheltered from rain, frost and direct sun.
What to put on in-ground graves
In-ground graves have more space: you can use potted plants and low arrangements. Choose heavy, stable pots that the wind will not knock over, and check the cemetery regulations: in Turin, for example, pots must not be left on the ground outside the grave plot.
Real, artificial or preserved flowers?
Real flowers are the most heartfelt gesture, but they need replacing when they wilt. Artificial flowers last longer, but in the sun they fade within a few months and become plastic waste. Preserved flowers, which are real but treated to last, suffer from damp and sun outdoors: they do well indoors, in a chapel or a covered niche. For the cemetery we only prepare fresh flowers and plants.
Some bouquets that cope well with the open air
These are arrangements from our shop on Via Pergolesi, from €20 to €45 depending on the flowers and the size. For All Saints' Day, you will find all the most popular bouquets, prices and the rules of Turin's cemeteries in the guide what flowers to bring to the cemetery on All Saints' Day; what chrysanthemum colours mean is in the guide to the meaning of chrysanthemums.
How to make them last longer
- Cut the stems at an angle before putting them in the vase.
- Use clean water and change it when you go back; to keep mosquitoes away, a larvicide or damp sand works well.
- Remove wilted flowers: they make the healthy ones rot too.
- For plants, a heavy saucer helps keep the water in and the pot steady.
Frequently asked questions
Which cut flowers last longest at the cemetery?
Chrysanthemums and santini, anthurium, protea and leucospermum, cymbidium orchids and carnations. Limonium and helichrysum dry while keeping their colour.
Which flowers withstand the cold at the cemetery?
Among cut flowers, chrysanthemums and santini; among plants, cyclamen, heather, pansies and hellebores, which actually bloom in winter.
Which flowers withstand the summer heat at the cemetery?
Geraniums, portulaca, succulents and lavender, which tolerate full sun and little water. Cut flowers last less in summer: a plant is a better choice.
What flowers should I put in burial niches?
Tall, narrow bouquets of a few stems, with compact flowers such as chrysanthemums, anthurium or a stem of cymbidium, which fit the small vase and do not fall in the wind.
What are everlasting flowers?
Flowers that dry on the stem while keeping their shape and colour, such as limonium (statice), helichrysum and gypsophila. At the cemetery they stay lovely even when the fresh flowers have wilted.
Real or artificial flowers at the cemetery?
Real flowers need replacing but are the most heartfelt gesture; artificial ones last longer but fade in the sun within a few months. Preserved flowers only do well indoors.
The bouquets in this guide
All bouquets
