Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Thanksgiving centerpieces dress the table for the big meal, at your house or a host's: a cornucopia, low mum designs, candle centerpieces and a sunflower basket. A local florist near the recipient makes each one by hand.

A centerpiece has to share the table with platters and pie, so the guide below covers height, tradition, candles, sizing and timing. Plan delivery for a day or two before Thursday so the flowers have time to settle in.

Gather

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Gems

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Lemony

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How to choose a Thanksgiving table centerpiece

Low Thanksgiving centerpieces for conversation

On a table where people sit for hours, keep the flowers below eye level so nobody has to lean around them. Several designs here are built that way. Ember Centerpiece spreads bronze, red and orange mums over a bed of foliage, and Happy Harvest Cornucopia sits low and wide. Save taller vase arrangements, like Harvest Melody Bouquet with its snapdragons and full-size roses, for the buffet or the sideboard. For more mum designs, browse our chrysanthemum arrangements.

The cornucopia and other traditions

The cornucopia, or horn of plenty, is the traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece and a long-standing symbol of a full harvest. Happy Harvest Cornucopia fills that shape with sunflowers, chrysanthemums and carnations in yellow and orange. Pumpkins and gourds are the other classic, and a few small ones look right around any of these floral arrangements. Linda's Lush Centerpiece, with carnations, roses and eucalyptus in autumn tones, is full enough to hold the middle of the table without a second piece.

Centerpieces with candles

Two designs include a candle. Fields of Europe for Fall Centerpiece sets a low orange candle among loosely gathered lilies, sunflowers and daisies, and Brilliant Autumn Centerpiece wraps deep red and bronze mums around a gold tapered candle. If you light them, keep the flame clear of leaves and petals and never leave it burning unattended.

Sizing and timing

Most of these Thanksgiving flower centerpieces come in three or four sizes. Choose a small one for a round table for four, and a large one or a matching pair for a long table with the extra leaves in. Designer's Choice - Thanksgiving Centerpiece lets the florist build from the freshest stems of the week in the size you pick. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November, so schedule Tuesday or Wednesday. For dinners earlier in the season, see our fall centerpieces.

Thanksgiving centerpiece questions

What flowers are best for a Thanksgiving centerpiece?

Chrysanthemums lead the list because they keep their color and shape through a long meal. Carnations and alstroemeria are long-lasting too, sunflowers bring warmth, and roses in orange, yellow or red add polish. Berries, wheat and seeded eucalyptus finish the harvest look.

What is a good low centerpiece for Thanksgiving?

Look for a design described as low and wide, such as a mum centerpiece or a cornucopia, and aim for something under about 12 inches tall so guests can see across. A long, narrow arrangement running down the middle of the table also keeps sightlines open.

Can I order a centerpiece for someone else's Thanksgiving table?

Yes, and many hosts welcome it. Use their full address, add a card message at checkout, and pick a date before the holiday so the arrangement is ready for the meal. To send a bouquet or a plant instead, see our Thanksgiving flowers and gifts.

How do I keep a Thanksgiving centerpiece fresh until dinner?

Add water as soon as it arrives and check it each morning, because low containers can dry out quickly in a warm house full of cooking. Park it in a cool room away from the oven and direct sun, then move it to the table a few hours before guests sit down.

How big should a Thanksgiving centerpiece be?

A common rule of thumb is about one third of the table's length, kept low enough to see over. On a six-foot table, that's roughly two feet long. A round table for four needs only a small piece, while a long banquet table may look better with two medium ones.