What flowers are appropriate for a green or natural burial?
The Short Answer
Natural burials call for fully biodegradable flowers with no wire, foam, plastic, or dyes, since everything may go into the earth. Loose bunches of seasonal, locally grown stems tied with twine or laid directly on the shroud or simple casket are ideal.
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What natural burial asks of flowers
Green burial forgoes embalming, metal caskets, and concrete vaults, letting the body return to the earth naturally, often in a shroud or a plain wood or wicker casket. Flowers should follow the same ethic: nothing that will not break down. That means no floral foam, no wire, no plastic ties, and ideally no dyed or chemically treated blooms. The goal is a tribute as natural as the burial itself. Many families find this simplicity deeply meaningful, a final gesture in keeping with a life lived close to the land.
The right style of arrangement
Loose, gathered bunches suit natural burial beautifully. Think of a bundle of seasonal stems tied with jute or cotton twine, laid across the shroud or casket, or single flowers guests place by hand. Wreaths woven from bendable branches and greenery, with no wire frame, are another lovely option. The aesthetic is unfussy and organic, wildflowers, herbs, grasses, and garden blooms rather than tightly structured designs. This look does not just meet the requirements, it captures the quiet, grounded spirit these services carry.
Sourcing and season in Michigan
Because natural burial values a light footprint, locally grown, chemical-free flowers are the best match, which ties the tribute to the Michigan season. Late spring through fall offers abundant local material, while winter limits options and may call for hardy greenery and dried natural elements instead. Some families gather flowers from the loved one's own garden. Tell us you are planning a green burial and we will build only with biodegradable materials, source as locally as the season allows, and skip anything that would not belong in the earth.
Planning Tips From Our Designers
- Use only biodegradable materials, no foam, wire, or plastic.
- Choose loose bunches tied with twine over structured designs.
- Favor undyed, chemical-free, locally grown blooms.
- Consider a wire-free woven wreath of branches and greenery.
- Tell your florist it is a green burial so they build accordingly.
We're here to help you honor their memory
Our designers will guide you gently through every option, from casket sprays to sympathy arrangements for the home.
Plan A Meaningful TributePrefer to order flowers now? Shop the Bentley Florist collection — same-day delivery across Burton and Flint.
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