Skip to main content

Create a beautiful Dia de los Muertos altar with these amazing flowers

Dia de los Muertos is a time for celebrating family and remembering ancestors. It’s a special celebration, rich with history and cultural significance. The ofrenda, or altar, is decorated with flowers, photos, and candles to honor the memory of those who have passed on. There are many important traditions in this celebration, but here are a few things to note about the flowers typically used in Dia de los Muertos altars.

What flowers are typically used on Day of the Dead altars?

Among the number of Dia de los Muertos flowers customarily used in the tradition, the most well-known is the marigold, also called the cempasúchil. Marigolds are circular flowers with layered, bowl-shaped petals that come in various shades of yellow, orange, and red. Any variety, or a mix of varieties, can be seen on Dia de los Muertos, but the most traditional variety is the Aztec marigold. This variety has larger, more spectacular flowers and grows much taller than other varieties. Their longer stems make them excellent to use as cut flowers, while the larger blooms provide more and larger petals for scattering.

Recommended Videos

Another flower that is sometimes included is chrysanthemums. Unlike marigolds, there is no particular variety of chrysanthemum associated with the holiday, but there is a color. White chrysanthemums specifically are used, while other colors are not.

However, any color of gladiolus is acceptable. These flowers grow on tall stems shaped like spikes or swords and come in a wide array of colors. This makes them excellent accent flowers! Purple gladiolus are especially striking when paired with the bright golds of marigold, while a pink gladiolus softens the arrangement.

What is the significance of these flowers?

The use of marigold in Dia de los Muertos stretches all the way back to the Aztecs. To the Aztecs, marigolds were a sacred flower, representative of the gods, and were cultivated to produce bigger, brighter blooms. That’s right, the name Aztec marigold isn’t just for show, they were bred by the Aztecs! They used the flowers in ceremonies to honor the gods and their ancestors, which eventually mixed with Catholicism and evolved into Dia de los Muertos. Today, they are used in decorating so that their bright color and strong scent can help lead the spirits of ancestors to their families for a day of reunion.

Chrysanthemums are considered funeral flowers in several cultures, even though some of those cultures have little connection to each other. Regardless of why chrysanthemums have become so widely associated with death, white chrysanthemums in particular have come to represent a celebration of the dead. They are sometimes used in Dia de los Muertos decorations to celebrate the lives of ancestors and loved ones who have passed on.

Gladiolus symbolism is not quite as universal as that of chrysanthemums. With their bright colors and sword-like shape, there are myriad meanings for this plant. In the case of Dia de los Muertos, they typically represent remembrance.

What else might be placed on an ofrenda?

Dia de los muertos ofrenda with marigold archway

The ofrenda itself is typically a table, covered with a white tablecloth that is decorated with cut paper and flowers. An ofrenda is personal and unique to each family, so it’s impossible to list every single thing that may appear on one. There are, however, a few common items included in an ofrenda. One such item is pictures of loved ones who have passed. These are accompanied by candles, lit in remembrance, honor, and to guide their spirit to the ofrenda.

Food is placed before the pictures. The food may be a variety of traditional dishes, fruits, and pan de muerto. A particular favorite food of a loved one is often included.

Mementos of loved ones, such as clothing items, toys, or anything strongly associated with a particular person may be set on the ofrenda, as well. Religious items, like crosses or saint’s candles, are also often included. If the ofrenda has multiple layers or levels, the religious items may be at the top, but they can also be spread throughout the other layers. Crosses made of flowers make a particularly beautiful touch.

Dia de los Muertos is a time for celebrating and taking pride in family. Traditions can vary from place to place or family to family, but what stays the same is the love for your family and heritage. Remembering loved ones can take many forms, so it’s important to stay true to yourself, and enjoy Dia de los Muertos in the way that most speaks to you.

Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
How to dry gourds: Your complete guide
Dry your own gourds at home for gorgeous fall decor
A basket with fall leaves and small gourds

Gourds, especially pumpkins and squash, make excellent decorations due to their thick shell-like skins. You can carve them into lanterns, turn them into instruments, or simply paint them to match whatever occasion you choose. Unless you’re carving them, though, it’s best to dry them first. Drying helps preserve the gourd and stop it from decaying. Want to learn how to dry gourds at home? It’s surprisingly simple, even for people without much experience. To help you get started, here’s our easy walkthrough explaining how to dry gourds at home.
Choosing the best gourds for drying

The gourd you choose to dry should be fully mature, so their skins are properly hard. Before they mature, gourds have softer skins, which can interfere with the drying process. Smaller gourds will dry faster than larger ones overall, and while larger gourds can dry at home, they are more time consuming.

Read more
6 types of gourds you should know this fall season
Gourds that add seasonal spirit to your fall garden
A variety of squash types set on a black table

From pumpkins to watermelons, there are many incredible gourds you can grow in your garden. While some gourds are ready to be harvested in summer or winter, fall is the season most often associated with gourds -- and for good reason. Some of the most popular fall decorations are gourds, including pumpkins and many types of squash. What should you do if you want something a little more unusual, though? We have a list of six fun and unique types of gourds you should know about to get you started.
Speckled swan gourds

Speckled swan gourds are a type of calabash or bottle gourd, named for their distinctive shape. With a round base and long, curved neck, they resemble swans when placed upright. Speckled swan gourds are typically dark green with lighter green or cream-colored speckles or markings.

Read more
How big do Bromeliads get?
Caring for you bromeliad so it grows as big and old as possible
Group of mature bromeliads

Bromeliads are gorgeous houseplant that are known for their vibrant flowers and glossy leaves. When getting a bromeliad for the first time, many people find themselves asking a few questions. How big do bromeliads get? What’s the average bromeliad size? How long do bromeliads live? These flowering houseplants are slow-growing, and most of the time when you buy them from the nursery they’re already blooming. That means they’re fully mature and as big as they’re going to get. However, if you want to try propagating your own bromeliad, then you'll need to know what to expect.
How large will your bromeliad grow?

Throughout their life, houseplant bromeliads can grow anywhere from 1 inch to 3 feet tall. Some won’t reach the biggest height by maturity, but some will. It’s a toss-up when you’re growing pups for how big they will eventually get, but you should plan for a 2 to 3-foot-tall plant to be on the safe side.

Read more