Cemeteries once served as landscaped parks in addition to burial grounds, but these days, most places have detailed rules on plants.(George Weigel)

Lots of families memorialize deceased loved ones with gravesite flowers, especially around holidays such as Memorial Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

It’s a colorful remnant of a time when plants and flowers played a much more prominent role in cemeteries. In the days before public parks, early cemeteries served both as burial grounds and serene public havens filled with trees, shrubs and flowers. If you’re planning to remember a loved one with plants this Memorial Day, the first step is to find out what the cemetery’s plant rules are. These vary widely.

Maintenance funding often plays a big role. In other words, who’s going to water, trim, and otherwise care for a plant and flowers that you plant? What happens when someone’s plants, and/or flowers invades another space, dies, or becomes bug- or disease-ridden? And who’s going to pay to clean up and/or remove cut flowers and potted plants left behind by the set-and-leave visitors?

As a result, few cemeteries allow larger plantings such as trees and shrubs. Most allow potted plants or at least cut flowers in approved vases some of the time.

Leaving flowers at the grave or memorial site for somebody who has passed away is something many of us feel the need to do. However, we want to make sure we do it in a way that will properly reflect upon, and honor, the life of our late loved one.

This sometimes makes it difficult to choose just the right flowers. Should the flowers be bright and festive, or should they be more subtle and understated? Should we buy a wreath, a bouquet, a pillow, or a spray? How many flowers should we place on the grave?

All of these questions really boil down to what your instincts tell you to do. There is no right or wrong. However, we’d like to give you some general thoughts that might help you follow your instincts to the perfect graveside flowers.

Flower Meanings
Flowers carry a lot of symbolism, which is very important for remembrances. Listed below are some of the flowers we love, and what each one symbolizes:

• Rose (red) – Passionate love
• Rose (pink) – Friendship
• Rose (yellow) – Zealous
• Rose (white) – Purity
• Poppy – Consolation – Also symbolic for veterans
• Calla Lily – Marriage and fidelity
• Sunflower – Adoration
• Peony – Healing
• Zinnia – Thoughts of friends
• Daisy – Innocence
• Hydrangea – Perseverance
• Gladiola – Strength of character
• Carnation (red) – Flashy
• Carnation (pink) – Gratitude
• Carnation (white) – Remembrance
• Larkspur – Beautiful spirit
• Orchid – Delicate beauty

What flowers do you think that will be great to memorialize deceased loved ones on gravesite?

What flowers and / or plants have you used to remember a loved one?

We will love to know what you think, so let us know your comments and recommendations down below…