The plants that help us say good-bye
Emily Ellis
For thousands of years, plants have helped us mourn the passing of our dead loved ones. Few things can be more peaceful and comforting than a bouquet of beautiful flowers, reminding us of life and hope during difficult times, as well as our connection to the earth.
The link between flowers and funerals dates back to our earliest ancestors. In the 1960s, archaeologists discovered the remains of several neanderthals in a cave in Iraq. When they analyzed the soil samples, they discovered the pollen of yarrow, cornflower, bachelor's button, St Barnaby's thistle, hollyhock, grape hyacinth, and other flowers - suggesting that, 60,000 years ago, someone had carried out the sad task of gathering the flowers to bury with their dead.
In honor of Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) earlier this week - a Mexican holiday held on November 1st and 2nd to remember and celebrate those who have passed on - we’re listing several plants used around the world to help us say good-bye.
marigolds (Tagetes erecta)
Emmanuel Sweerts, Five Varieties of French Marigold (tagetes patula), 1612. From An Oak Spring Flora.
The native range of marigolds - the common English name which is derived from the Catholic tradition of placing the golden flowers on altars to the Virgin Mary - stretches from the Southeastern United States into South America. In Mexico, the use of cempasuchil ( an indigenous Nahuatl word from central Mexico meaning “twenty petals”) in ceremonies to commemorate the dead dates back to Aztec feast days; in present-day Día de los Muertos ceremonies, the flowers’ resemblance to the sun and strong, sweet scent helps guide spirits back to earth for the festivities.
Marigolds made their way to India as part of the Columbian Exchange in the 15th and 16th centuries, where they are also used to honor the dead. Called genda phool in Hindu culture, they adorn altars and wedding guests, as well as corpses at funerals: besides being bright and beautiful, marigolds repel insects. (They also make great pest deterrent flowers to plant in your garden.)
willow (salix)
James Forbes, Salicetum Woburnense, 1829. From Fantastic Flora.
While there are over 400 species of trees and shrubs in the willow family, it is the iconic weeping willow, native to Asia but found by bodies of water around the world, that we associate with mourning. Resembling a person bent over in grief, willows have long been associated with peace, protection, and movement across cultures; in the Bible, it is said that the first weeping willow grew in Babylon where the Children of Israel were taken into slavery and wept as they remembered Zion.
Although willow branches aren’t typically used in funeral arrangements, they are one of the primary materials used for biodegradable wicker caskets in the UK and other places where the popularity of green funerals is on the rise. As willow is a fast-growing tree that can be harvested with minimal machinery, decomposes quickly, and can provide important habitat for wildlife - to say nothing of its long cultural history - it is a good choice for ecologically returning the deceased back to the earth.
Lilies (lilium)
An oriental lily growing in Oak Spring’s formal garden.
Today, many of us associate the smell of funeral homes with the cloying scent of lilies, particularly luminous white varieties like calla, stargazer and oriental lilies. The flowers resonated with different ancient peoples; in Greek myth, they were said to have originated from the breast milk of the goddess Hera, while in Egypt they were seen as a symbol of rebirth and regeneration and were included in garlands placed on mummies. In Christianity, the spring flowers are a symbol of resurrection, their white color representing the purity and innocence of a departed soul.
While lilies’ beauty and pale coloring contributes to their popularity as funeral flowers, their powerful fragrance provides a more practical reason for their use in burials. Strong-smelling flowers have long been used to cover up the smell of decaying flesh, particularly during times when embalming technology was less advanced. At the delayed funeral of U.S. president Andrew Jackson in 1845, for example, a literal mound of flowers were used to cover up the scent of his corpse; large, fragrant lilies are an ideal choice for such a task.
Chrysanthemums
Lise Cloquet, Album of Flowers, 1820. From An Oak Spring Flora.
In Japan, China, and Korea, as well as European countries like Belgium and Austria, chrysanthemums are the funeral flower of choice. Native to East Asia, mums have been cultivated in China as a medicinal herb dating as far back as the early 15th century b.c.; they have also long been an important symbol in Japan, appearing on the country’s imperial seal and on the 50-yen coin. They have different meanings depending on their colors, with white mums representing lamentation and death. These multi-petaled autumn blooms can last up to a month after being cut if properly cared for, making them a good choice to place on a loved one’s grave or to give to a bereaved family.
Daisies (Bellis perennis)
While we don’t usually see common daisies in funeral arrangements today, they do have a bittersweet historical connection with death: according to Celtic tradition, a daisy grows for the spirit of each child that has died, usually in birth, and mourning parents were often presented with a bouquet of the flowers. The longstanding association with daisies and children likely began due to the flower’s connection to Freya, the goddess of love and fertility, in Norse mythology.
Want to check out some other lists of the world’s fascinating plants? Read our Halloween list of The World’s Most Monstrous Plants and our round-up of The Plants in Pumpkin Spice.
Banner image: An arrangement made by OSGF farmers and gardeners using french marigolds.