How do you choose plants for a grave?
Let’s start with some general considerations for choosing the right plants.
Suitability for the location
The plants chosen obviously have to be suitable for the local soil, light and weather conditions. It is also important that they fit visually into the setting. A palm tree in a rural Herefordshire churchyard or a grave covered with bedding plants amongst graves covered entirely with grass are both likely to look out of place.
Permanence
I like to think of graves as small memorial gardens which should look pleasing all year round. This can be achieved by changing plants regularly depending on what is in season, but it is far more cost-effective to use a large proportion of evergreen plants which can remain for several years. Herbaceous perennials, which die down during the winter, will leave “holes” in the planting.
Appearance
Varying heights, foliage textures and colours will provide visual interest. Plant sizes need to be in scale with the grave. A larger number of small plants will generally look better than a few large ones.
Size and vigour
Churchyards and cemeteries are public places and it is, therefore, important to bear other visitors and maintenance staff in mind. Plants which self-seed prolifically or which spread beyond the confines of the grave, making ground maintenance difficult or blocking paths, should be avoided.
The different roles of plants
Plants for graves are generally divided into three categories: Framework Plants, which give a grave shape, height and a focal point, Ground Cover Plants, which are evergreen and – as the name suggests – cover the ground to reduce weeds and provide a background for other elements, and Seasonal Plants which provide the splashes of colour which lift the spirit.
On most graves, a single framework plant is sufficient. Seasonal planting covering 10-15% of the area provides plenty of opportunity for colour. A large proportion of groundcover plants will give permanence and keep maintenance costs down. Where fresh flowers are frequently placed on the grave, it is also useful to set in a level stone or slab as a solid base for a vase or pot.