The topic of grave planting is considered one of the most sensitive areas for hobby gardeners and professionals. Because the selected plants should put the grave in the right light, be easy to care for and at the same time appear appropriate to the environment of a cemetery. With our suggestions you will also find suitable plants for grave planting and their surroundings in spring.
Grave planting in spring
notice: Do not be surprised if numerous plants from completely different areas seem familiar to you. After all, why should graves always be dreary and inconspicuous? The commemoration of the buried persons can be expressed in spring with brightly colored plants in the grave planting, which is typical of the season.
Onion plants as grave plants
Onion plants are planted in the ground as early as autumn. Elaborate plantings in the ground that is just frozen are therefore no longer necessary. In addition, they are usually perennial, which significantly reduces the effort. Once planted, they are well suited, for example, as self-appearing fillers for other plantings, as well as independent decoration for graves that are less frequently tended. They are also among the first plants to break through the soil and start growing in spring. The reason for this is the energy reservoir in the onion.
Plants by H - K
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus)
In contrast to most other early bloomers, the hyacinth is able to convince with multi-flowered clusters. Because the flowers emit a distinctive, strong, sweet odor, these plants enhance a grave in multiple ways. Their perennial nature ensures little effort, since replanting in the following year can be omitted.
- Appearance: narrow, stripe-like, shiny leaves, short racemose inflorescence with short, stalked flowers, 6 equal petals, about two-thirds of which are tubular, flower color purple to blue
- Size: 15 to 40 centimeters
- Flowering time: March to May
- Other: onion plant belonging to the asparagus family with a penetratingly sweet scent of flowers
Crocus (Crocus)
More colorful than the snowdrop, the crocus is able to enrich the green and white of the first contemporaneous crops with intense colors. Because of its small size, the crocus is particularly impressive when it occurs in large numbers through the formation of carpets of flowers.
- Appearance: usually six basal leaves with a smooth edge and a whitish central nerve, narrow, pointed petals standing in two circles, forming upright flowers pointing upwards, flower color white, yellow, blue to purple
- Size: 8 to 15 centimeters
- Flowering time: February to March
- Miscellaneous: in addition to early bloomers, also autumn-blooming species, which are often confused with autumn crocuses
Planting from M - N
March cup (Leucojum vernum)
Not dissimilar to the snowdrop, but appearing much later, is the March cup. It clearly resembles the snowdrop and is therefore a very good alternative, which can be arranged well with other flowering plants together with other flowering plants in spring as grave planting.
- Appearance: similar to the snowdrop with basal, slender leaves and a towering, thin stalk. Hanging, white flowers with a bell-shaped calyx per stalk, 6 white, uniform stamens per flower
- Size: around 10 to 30 centimeters
- Flowering time: March to April
- Other: Also known as spring snowflake, distantly related to the snowdrop
Daffodil (Narcissus)
Often referred to as the daffodil, the daffodil is one of the heralds of spring. The striking, usually yellow flowers form a concise unique selling point, so that daffodils can set the scene for a grave impressively and at the same time discreetly, even without other accompanying plants.
- Appearance: usually three to four linear to strap-shaped leaves, leafless inflorescence stems, upright, each with a single flower, flower often open in the characteristic shape of a flat plate with an upturned crown, yellow, rarely white or orange
- Size: growth height between 5 and 80 centimeters
- Flowering time: March and April, rarely until May
- Miscellaneous: Onions from the third year of growth with roots that pull the onion deeper into the ground during the growth period, thus increasing winter hardiness of the onions
Planting from S - T
Chessboard Flower, also Chess Flower (Fritillaria Meleagris)
The most striking feature of the checkered flower, the eponymous drawing of the petals, is usually only recognizable at second glance. This spring-like plant can be seen as an invitation to pause at the grave of loved ones and reflect on the details of nature.
- Appearance: bare, straight stem with alternate, delicate leaves, usually four to six grey-green, very narrow leaves, one, rarely two nodding to drooping flowers with six petals, these with a characteristic checkerboard pattern, colors white to purple
- Size: 15 to 20 centimeters high
- Flowering time: April to May
- Other: perennial bulbous plant, the markings on the flowers are still faintly discernible even in the white variant
Snowdrop (Galanthus)
They usually break through the earth as the first heralds of spring and announce the approaching spring. Snowdrops are therefore ideal for the transition from winter drabness to the plants that follow. At the same time, their reserved appearance offers an optimal start into the reawakening life of the new growth period.
- Appearance: basal, narrow leaves, long, straight stalk with hanging, white single flower, these with three white bracts and three fused, white-greenish inner leaves
- Size: 7 to 15 centimeters
- Flowering time: February to March
- Other: belongs to the amaryllis family, a total of around 20 species are known
Tulip (Tulipa)
The tulip occurs very diverse with countless species. In particular, due to the numerous color variants, it can be very well adapted to other companion plants, as well as to the general design on and around the grave.
- Appearance: mostly basal leaves with a pronounced central rib, solid, straight stem with an upward-pointing, cup-shaped flower, different colors from white to yellow, orange, red to blue, pink and purple possible
- Size: Height between 10 and 70 centimeters
- Flowering time: March to April, some varieties until May
- Other: belongs to the lily family, bulb dies after flowering, at the same time new growth of following bulbs, therefore to be described as perennial
Grave planting in spring by annual seasonal plantings
In contrast to the bulbous plants that appear again and again, annual seasonal plants offer the opportunity to regularly change the grave planting and to adapt it to your own ideas or the realizable time required.
Plants with G
Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Small, rather inconspicuous and often even overlooked, the daisy is often associated with innocence and light-heartedness in literature. In its importance as an ornament on or around a grave, it could not be more appropriate. Its great advantage is that it blooms again and again throughout the year until the onset of winter.
- Appearance: basal, round to drop-shaped leaves with a single, bare flower stalk, single flower with numerous narrow white petals around a yellow center, flower diameter usually up to 20mm
- Size: 4 to 20 centimeters
- Flowering time: from March to the onset of winter
- Other: perennial species also available, often encountered as an unintended companion in lawns, etc
Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)
The gold paint is able to captivate from afar with its lush flowers. On closer inspection, it complements its appearance with an intense, sweet scent that turns a visit to the graves into a special natural phenomenon.
- Appearance: short-stalked leaves arranged in a rosette in the lower area, upper leaves, on the other hand, densely packed, shorter and almost sessile, racemose inflorescence with 10 to 30 yellow, brown or reddish peduncle flowers
- Size: 220 to 60 centimeters
- Flowering period: May to June
- Other: strong fragrance, biennial plant
Planting from R - S
Ranunculus/ Buttercup (Ranunculus)
Ranunculus is known from numerous gardens. A similarly large color variance as the tulip, but a significantly denser and more luxuriant growth make it a popular solitary planting that only needs a few additional flowers on the grave.
- Appearance: three- to five-part, bird's-foot-like, opposite leaves, one to five flowers terminal or lateral on a stalk that clearly protrudes over the leaves, dense, radially symmetrical flowers in numerous color variations
- Size: 30 to 35 centimeters
- Flowering time: from May
- Other: very large variety, with large differences in colour, as well as the number and size of flowers
Pansies (Viola)
One of the most well-known spring plants is the pansy. As both traditional and widespread planting, it creates a connection to tradition and is therefore very suitable for graves and graveyards.
- Appearance: basal, radial leaves with a pointed to oval shape and a clear central vein, numerous three- to four-petalled flowers with a very flat, wide open flower shape, colors from white to yellow, orange, red and blue to purple, mostly with a dark to black center
- Size: up to 20 centimeters
- Flowering time: from April
- Other: also known as Christ's Eye, often blooms again in the fall, only blooms in the second year when grown from seed
Pansies, Viola
notice: The well-known horned violet is a type of pansy and logically also belongs to the violet family. In terms of appearance and flowering time, it is very close to the pansy, so that it is not considered separately at this point.
Plants with V
Forget-me-not (Myosotis)
The name of this decorative, but at the same time discreetly reserved plant creates a direct reference to grave planting. Handed down from the Middle Ages as a request to God not to be forgotten, the meaning of the name can be transferred directly to the buried person in the grave. In this way, decorative planting can be harmoniously combined with symbolic meaning.
- Appearance: Entire, mostly hairy, basal leaves, small light blue flowers mostly in pairs on thin stalks that clearly exceed the leaves, 5 petals per flower
- Size: up to 30 centimeters
- Flowering time: April to June
- Other: mostly bushy to flat-growing, herbaceous plant, annual and perennial possible
Forget-me-not, Myosotis