Bereavement gifts are a very special way of showing your condolences. They let someone know that you care. The gift of a plant, especially a Jasmine plant, is a living gift that can be treasured for many years to come. Jasmine plants are not only fragrant and beautiful. The gesture of giving a jasmine plant as a bereavement plant can show someone that they have long-lasting love and support around them. In many cultures, Jasmine symbolizes love, purity, and appreciation.
Bereavement Gift Etiquette
We give sympathy or bereavement gifts for many reasons. You may wish to show your love and support to a close friend, colleague, or neighbor. You may want to give a gift to the family of someone you know who has died to acknowledge the love and respect you shared for their loved one who has passed on.
Bereavement gifts, including plants, can be sent or given with a personalized message if you are unable to attend a funeral ceremony. A living plant can also be the ideal alternative if there is a request for no cut flowers at the service. The tribute can be sent to a family home or given directly to a person experiencing the loss.
Sympathy or bereavement gifts can also be appropriate for some months or years after someone has passed away. On some occasions, a memorial service is held at a later date, or on an anniversary, or another event to mark the scattering of someone’s ashes.
Choosing a Jasmine Plant as a Bereavement Gift
If you are giving Jasmine as a bereavement gift, give some thought to where the recipient may have a sunny spot for the plant to thrive. If they have a warm sunny home, look for a beautiful species that will grow well indoors. For someone with a sunny deck or patio, a species that can be grown in an outdoor planter may be perfect. Avid gardeners and people with large sunny gardens and yards may appreciate a larger species that they can train to spread along the ground or an outdoor wall or fence.
Different Types of Jasmine Plants
Jasmine is native to tropical and subtropical regions. Generally, Jasmine prefers a warm or humid outdoor or indoor climate or environment. Jasmine plants like the sun. Depending on the species, Jasmine plants may grow as shrubs, climbing vines, groundcovers, or houseplants. Some species of Jasmine are shrub sized, others can grow up to a few meters high and wide.
There are around 200 species of Jasmine plants around the world. Six of the commonly grown species include:
- Star Jasmine: Also known as Confederate Jasmine, Southern Jasmine, and Chinese star jasmine. This species has small white flower petals that bloom in late spring and early summer. An evergreen plant, star jasmine grows well on trellises and along walls, fences, and hedges. Star jasmine can also be grown as an indoor houseplant.
- Winter Jasmine: A deciduous plant with bright yellow blooms, winter jasmine flowers appear in late winter and early spring. It can be used outside as either groundcover or a climbing vine. Winter jasmine can also be grown and be trained into a bonsai plant.
- Jasmine Officinale: This aromatic jasmine plant is also known as common jasmine, poet’s jasmine, and summer jasmine. A semi-evergreen climbing variety with a woody vine, its white flowers blossom throughout the summer months.
- Jasmine Sambac: Native to the Himalayas, Jasmine Sambac or Arabian Jasmine is a small evergreen variety. It can make an ideal indoor houseplant or smaller outdoor shrub or potted plant. Jasmine Sambac flowers are white, sweet, and fragrant, and bloom year-round.
- Dwarf Jasmine: As the name implies, Jasmine Parkeri or Dwarf Jasmine, is a smaller variety well suited to growing in containers. This evergreen species of jasmine grows to about 30 centimeters tall and 60 centimeters wide. This makes it perfect for growing around topiary frames. Its lightly scented flowers are yellow.
- Royal Jasmine: A fast growing evergreen, Jasmine Grandiflorum or Royal Jasmine can be grown in pots and containers. It can also climb trellises and fences. Its fragrant white flowers bloom between summer and autumn.
Alternative Plants to Give as Bereavement Gifts
There are many other stunning and beautiful plants that can be given to mark the passing of human life. It may be that a particular species is appropriate to mark and reflect someone’s personality, or even their name. Along with flowering and fragrant plants, fruiting plants and trees can also be apt bereavement gifts to pay tribute to the natural cycles of life. Other types of plants to consider as bereavement gifts include:
- Flowering Plants: Magnolia flowers burst into life in spring and summer with large, fragrant flowers. To some, magnolias symbolize strength, endurance, and dignity. For an indoor or sheltered patio plant, a Peace Lily with its fresh green leaves and white flowers symbolize purity.
- Other Plants and Trees: Olive trees, in ornamental and fruiting varieties, can be grown in pots and planters in warm climates and are representative of peace. The leaves and wood from laurel trees or bay trees have long been used in garlands and wreaths as a symbol of honor or respect. A fragrant plant, bay and laurel shrubs can also be grown in pots.
