10 Traditional Day of the Dead Flowers + Significance

ByXochitl Updated on

Day of the Dead flowers are more than decorations, they are symbolic guides meant to help loved ones return home to visit during Día de Muertos.

Each bloom has its own meaning, traditional use, and cultural significance, especially in regions like Oaxaca and Michoacán, where flower cultivation plays a major role in the celebration.

In this guide, you’ll learn the names and meanings of the traditional Day of the Dead flowers. You’ll also discover how to use the flower and what alternatives to look for if you can’t find them locally.

The most traditional Day of the Dead flower, marigolds growing in a flower field with green mountains in the background.

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Significance of Flowers for the Day of the Dead

Flowers for the Day of the Dead are believed to guide spirits back to the world of the living through their color and fragrance. Their vibrancy, both in color and scent, helps to adorn Día de Muertos celebrations.

Whether placed on an ofrenda, a gravesite, or used to line pathways, each bloom carries deep cultural meaning that enhances the celebration.

1. Marigolds (Cempasúchil)

A basket overflowing with bright yellow wild marigolds in full bloom. The wild marigold flower variety feature small daisy like petals and golden centers. Cempasuchil is the most iconic Day of the Dead flowers and believed to guide spirits home.
Wild cempasúchil flowers

Cempasúchil, sometimes called flor de muertos, is the most iconic Day of the Dead flower. Its vibrant orange hue and strong scent guide spirits home. During Día de Muertos, marigold petals and blooms line pathways, adorn cemeteries and graves, and decorate entire cities.

A man stands in the back of a truck overflowing with bright orange marigolds at the Jamaica flower market in Mexico City during Day of the Dead. Massive bundles of cempasuchil flowers spill from the vehicle creating a vivid sea of color central to Day of the Dead flower traditions.
Cempasúchil for sale at the Jamaica flower market during Día de Muertos in Mexico City.

You’ll also be able to find these flowers for sale in markets, outside graveyards, and by local street vendors. During Día de Muertos, you’ll see vendors selling cempasúchil flower crowns as well.

If you can’t find Cempasúchil, look for:

  • French marigold
  • Safflower
  • Yellow chrysanthemums
  • Marigold hybrids
  • Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)

2. Cockscomb (Flor de Terciopelo)

Vibrant red cockscomb flower with velvety ruffled crest rising above green leaves in an open field. Its bold sculptural shape adds rich color and symbolic beauty to Day of the Dead flower displays.

Cockscomb’s plush, velvety texture and deep red or magenta color make a striking addition to your Day of the Dead altar.

The flower represents blood and vitality, and its bold appearance adds dramatic contrast to orange cempasúchil.

During Día de Muertos in Oaxaca, you can visit a flower field that is known for cultivating flor de terciopelo (also known as cresta de gallo) in multiple hues.

If you can’t find cockscomb flowers, look for:

  • Amaranth
  • Celosia plumes
  • Red carnations
  • Red gomphrena

3. Baby’s breath (Nube)

Delicate white baby's breath, traditional Day of the Dead flowers fill the frame beside bouquets of creamy white chrysanthemums wrapped in plastic.

Often used to soften and fill floral arrangements, nube symbolizes purity, innocence, and remembrance. It is traditionally used for those who passed away at a young age.

Its cloudlike clusters also represent tenderness and the fragility of life. Sometimes during spiritual or religious celebrations, small bouquets of just baby’s breath will be used. You can also find these Day of the Dead flowers dyed several different colors. 

If you can’t find baby’s breath, look for:

  • White alyssum
  • Queen Anne’s lace
  • Statice (white)
  • Waxflower

4. Gladiolas

Tall red gladiolus spikes bloom among delicate white baby's breath flowers against a soft sky. The upright blossoms create height and elegance in Day of the Dead flower arrangements.

Gladiolas symbolize remembrance, family unity, and strength. Their vertical lines create structure in ofrendas and gravesite flower arrangements.

They are commonly used when honoring older family members or those who embodied resilience. White gladiolas, in particular, are often placed beside candles and photos.

If you can’t find gladiolas, look for:

  • Snapdragons
  • Delphinium
  • Lisianthus
  • Stock flowers

5. Chrysanthemums

Close up of bright yellow chrysanthemums with layered petals surrounded by deep red gladiolas and white chrysanthemums. The full textured flowers stand out in Day of the Dead flower arrangement to honor loved ones.

Chrysanthemums represent celebration, honor, and the beauty of life’s cycles. In Mexico, they are heavily associated with November festivities and are known for their longevity and rich fall colors. They are popular among families who want a long-lasting Día de Muertos flower for graves and paths leading to the ofrenda.

If you can’t find chrysanthemums, look for:

  • Dahlias
  • Zinnias
  • Gerbera daisies
  • Asters

6. Lillies (Lirios)

Lilies, especially white varieties, symbolize rejuvenation, purity, and the transition between life and death. They are often used for loved ones who passed unexpectedly or tragically. Their fragrance and shape add an ethereal quality to the altar, especially when combined with candles and marigold petals.

If you can’t find lilies, look for:

  • Calla lilies
  • Alstroemeria
  • White tulips
  • Oriental lilies (any color)

7. Siemprevivas (Strawflowers)

Bouquets of strawflowers in shades of red yellow and pink wrapped in clear plastic sit in a square green bucket at a market stall. The papery blooms with golden centers are commonly chosen as a long lasting Day of the Dead flower for ofrendas.

Siemprevivas, also called Flor Inmortal (Immortal flower) are popular for Día de Muertos because they retain their shape and vibrant color even after drying.

Their long-lasting petals symbolize longevity, remembrance and enduring connection, making them a beautiful tribute for ancestors or loved ones whose presence continues to guide the family.

You’ll often see siemprevivas in markets across Oaxaca and central Mexico. They are used alongside marigolds to add texture and longevity to the ofrenda.

If you can’t find siemprevivas, look for:

  • Statice (Limonium)
  • Dried gomphrena
  • Dried marigold heads

8. Roses (Rosas)

Roses have become an increasingly common Día de Muertos flower. Red roses symbolize everlasting love, while white roses represent peace and remembrance.

Many families use roses when honoring spouses, grandparents, or soulmates. Their familiar scent is believed to comfort returning spirits.

If you can’t find roses, look for:

  • Peonies
  • Ranunculus
  • Carnations

9. Carnations (Claveles)

Soft pink and deep magenta carnation flower bouquets wrapped in clear plastic sit in a white bucket at a market stall with bright orange marigolds blurred in the background.

Carnations are a cherished addition to many Día de Muertos ofrendas. Their ruffled petals and long-lasting blooms symbolize devotion and memory.

The most popular carnation flowers for Day of the Dead are usually vivid and bright shades like oranges, yellows and reds.

Since claveles can last a long time after being cut, they’re perfect for decorating altars where long lasting blooms that can keep their scent and color for the duration of the holiday are preferred.

If you can’t find carnations, look for:

  • Chrysanthemums
  • Dianthus
  • Asters

10. Clover (Trébol)

A large bundle of purple clover flowers piled together with green stems and leaves. The small round blooms add vibrant texture but are a lesser known Day of the Dead flower.

While not as common as some other blooms, trébol, or clover, can be seen in the markets during Muertos season. Red clover is popular for its vibrant purple flowers, while white clover can be used to purify spaces and bring peace and rest to the visiting spirits.

This flower is most common in regions where it can be easily harvested or bought in the fall, like south and central Mexico, and can be readily found in markets throughout the fall season.

If you can’t find red clover, look for:

  • Violets
  • Dandelions
  • Thistle flower
  • Varied wildflowers

Questions About Día de Muertos Flowers

What flowers represent the Day of the Dead?

The flower that most represents Day of the Dead is  cempasúchil. These Día de Muertos flowers are used in altars and pathways through graveyards, yards and homes to guide the spirits of the dead back home. Marigolds are known for their strong scent and vibrant orange color, making them an iconic and festive choice.

Is it cempasúchil or marigold?

Cempasúchil and marigolds are essentially the same flower, however there are some variations between the ones readily found in the United States and Mexico. In Mexico, cempasúchiles are often larger, fuller, and one singular, vibrant orange. Marigolds found in the US tend to be smaller, less dense, and a variety of colors from yellow to crimson. 

What three colors are the traditional Day of the Dead flowers?

The three traditional Day of the Dead flower colors are orange, purple, and white. Orange represents the sun and life, purple symbolizes mourning and spirituality, and white stands for purity, innocence, and remembrance. White is also used to purify the altar and absorb negative energy, offering protection to the visiting souls.

What kind of flowers go on an ofrenda?

The kind of flowers that traditionally go on an ofrenda include cempasúchil, cockscomb, baby’s breath, gladiolas, siemprevivas, and other regional blooms. Families may add roses, orchids, or local wildflowers, depending on availability. These flowers guide, honor, and symbolize the connection between the living and the returning spirits.

Final Thoughts About Day of the Dead Flowers

Day of the Dead flowers aren’t just beautiful, they’re meaningful symbols that help guide and honor loved ones returning home.

Whether you choose traditional cempasúchil, deep red cockscomb, or regional blooms, each flower adds emotional and cultural depth to the celebration.

Selecting the right flowers ensures your altar for Day of the Dead is vibrant, heartfelt, and rooted in tradition.

Raised between Mexico and the US, Xochitl uses her bicultural identity to help travelers connect more deeply with local culture in Mexico. Her insights are rooted in lived experience to make your Mexico travels more meaningful, authentic and unique.