If you run a cemetery, then part of the things you need to do to make your cemetery appealing is to plant flowers. One of the primary reasons for planting flowers in cemeteries is to enhance the aesthetics of the area. These plants can add color, texture, and beauty to an otherwise solemn and sometimes somber environment.
Apart from that, flowers are often associated with life, renewal, and remembrance. Hence planting them in cemeteries can symbolize the idea of the cycle of life and death.
In addition to that, visitors to cemeteries often use flowers and plants as a means of expressing their emotions and love for the deceased.
This is why the act of bringing and arranging flowers can be a way for people to connect with and remember their loved ones. Having said that here are some of the flowers you can plant at a cemetery.
10 Types of Flowers to Plant at a Cemetery
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Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley has nodding white bell-shaped flowers that are borne in a cluster on one side of a leafless stalk. The glossy leaves, usually two, are located at the base of the plant.
The fruit is a red berry. Lilies can range in size from 1 foot to 7 feet, depending on the type. Lily of the valley is a delicate flower with a sweet fragrance.
Some believe the small flowers actually formed from Eve’s tears as she left the Garden of Eden, and the flower is mentioned several times in the Bible. Over and above, the Lily of the Valley flower is a symbol of purity and innocence, making it a fitting choice for a cemetery.
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Pansies
Pansies is a type of polychromatic large-flowered hybrid plant cultivated as a garden flower. It is derived by hybridization from several species in the section Melanium (“the pansies”) of the genus Viola, particularly V. tricolor, a wildflower of Europe and western Asia known as heartsease.
The flower is 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 in) in diameter and has two slightly overlapping upper petals, two side petals, and a single bottom petal with a slight beard emanating from the flower’s center. These petals are usually white or yellow, purplish, or blue.
The plant may grow to 23 cm (9 in) in height and prefers sun to varying degrees and well-draining soils. Pansies are a popular choice for cemeteries because they are low-maintenance and produce cheerful blooms in a variety of colors.
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Forget-me-nots
If at all you have the choice of planting just one flower in a cemetery, we will suggest that you settle for Forget-me-nots. Forget-me-not, or Myosotis as it is also known, is a humble but glorious spring flower, which appears in frothy blue clouds at the front of borders and at the edges of paths.
It complements other spring flowers, making a great backdrop for taller tulips or wallflowers, and naturalizes easily for wilder-style plantings. Forget-me-nots are a symbol of remembrance and love, making them a thoughtful choice for a cemetery.
While traditionally this flower represents remembrance, they also carry several other meanings including true love, devotion, and royalty, and are also associated with Alzheimer’s and Alaska.
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Impatiens
Impatiens got their name from a Latin word that describes the way they shoot out their seeds when their seed pods open. Impatiens are fairly low-maintenance plants that do well both in containers and garden beds.
They are typically shade and moisture-loving plants. Impatiens prefer fertile, well-drained soil that is high in organic matter.
Impatiens are shade-loving flowers that produce a profusion of blooms in a variety of colors. They are a good choice for cemeteries with limited sunlight.
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Begonia
Begonia is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains more than 2,000 different plant species.
The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Some species are commonly grown indoors as ornamental houseplants in cooler climates.
The begonia stands for caution and consideration, as well as good communication between different parties. It is commonly given as a gift when paying back a favor.
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Petunias
Petunias are among the most popular flowering annuals for good reason. Petunias are bright and lively, bloom from spring until frost, and scent the air with lovely fragrance.
Best of all, petunias are amazingly easy to grow, both in the garden and in containers. There are literally hundreds of named petunia varieties.
Petunias are a good choice for cemeteries with full sun and they can be used for color masses, borders, containers, hanging baskets, or as a seasonal groundcover.
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Salvias
Salvias (ornamental sage) are a must in the summer garden and the graveside. Although, there are many species and cultivars and lots of variation in their leaf shape and texture, but it is easy to tell they are in the mint family because of their square stems. Most members of this genus are small upright shrubs reaching 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.
They come in a vast range of forms and colors and their nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. They flower for months on end, often from midsummer until the first frosts, and many have aromatic foliage, too.
Salvias are a good choice for cemeteries with full sun or partial shade, plus the fact that their nectar-rich flowers attract a wide range of pollinators including honey and native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
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Gazania
Gazania is very easy to grow because of its extreme heat and drought tolerance. It has beautiful flowers stretching to 4 inches across and comes in vibrant colors. Gazania is most commonly grown as an annual.
However, there are several perennial varieties that can survive winters all the way down to Zone 4. An interesting feature of Gazania flowers is that they close at night and on cloudy days, opening again in full sunlight.
They bloom profusely in late spring and early summer. In mild winter areas, they bloom intermittently through the rest of the year. Gazania is a good choice for cemeteries with full sun and well-drained soil.
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Geraniums
Geraniums are sun-loving flowers that produce a profusion of blooms in a variety of colors. The cultivated geraniums of the genus Pelargonium are herbaceous to woody, with thick fleshy leaves varying in shape from round to lobed to deeply cut; the flowers, borne in terminal clusters, vary in color from white through shades of pink to deep red and violet.
Most of the cultivated species are hybrids. Geraniums are said to symbolize positive things, like happiness, friendship, and good health.
In many areas, they are a common housewarming gift for these reasons. Geraniums are a good choice for cemeteries with full sun or partial shade.
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Roses
The list of flowers you should consider planting at a cemetery will not be complete without rose flowers. A rose is a plant that is a member of the genus Rosa, which consists of some 100 species of perennial shrubs in the rose family.
Many roses are cultivated for their beautiful flowers, which range in color from white through various tones of yellow and pink to dark crimson and maroon.
They make special occasions memorable with their presence and their lingering fragrance. Roses generally are a symbol of love and remembrance, making them a thoughtful choice for a cemetery.