7 Traditional Flowers to Plant for Memorial Day
Dressing up the garden for Memorial Day can be a beautiful tribute to those who dedicated their lives to our country. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some traditional flowers to plant for the holiday, and the reasons why these flowers show up for the occasion.
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As Memorial Day approaches, our minds go to the bittersweet commitment of those who served our country’s military and are no longer with us. On this day, as we often do, we use flowers to commemorate those lives and honor their memory.
Many Americans mark the holiday by visiting cemeteries, attending parades and ceremonies, and otherwise gathering together to express their gratitude. It’s a good time to reach out to families and friends who suffer from the loss of a loved one in military service.
Flowers are a beautiful way to express to those who are grieving and commemorating these lives that we empathize and are grateful for the sacrifice. They are delicate beauties that can represent appreciation, honor, and remembrance.
If you are a gardener who wants to observe the holiday in a special and significant way this year, there are some traditional flowers that have come to embody the sentiments of Memorial Day. It’s a lovely time to plant a patriotic garden to carry into the other National holidays that the summer holds, in observance of Independence and service to the country.
Flander’s Poppy
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botanical name Papaver rhoeas |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 1’-3’ |
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hardiness zones 3-10 |
In May of 1915 Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae attended a funeral of a friend who died in battle. The occasion inspired him to write a poem entitled ‘In Flanders Fields.’ In it’s opening, the poem evokes a battlefield, written from the point of view of a deceased soldier.
In Flanders fields, the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
It’s said that he penned the poem after the burial of his dear friend who had died in battle. Buried in a crude grave with a wooden cross for a marker, he observed wild poppies blooming between the crosses marking a multitude of similar graves.
It’s a sad but beautiful visual of the brilliant red Flanders Poppy, a symbol of hope and remembrance. In many countries, the red poppy is a prevailing traditional flower symbol for Memorial Day.
Also called the Corn Poppy, this beautiful, pastoral flower enjoys a sunny spot in the garden. It benefits from soil rich in organic matter, and is perennial in zones 3-9, so once you plant it, you’ll enjoy it during this time every year. Flanders Poppies bloom in late spring and early summer.
Lily ‘Casa Blanca’
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botanical name Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 3’-4’ |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
‘Casa Blanca’ lilies don’t have a specific symbolic nature in terms of Memorial Day. But, they are a common flower used to commemorate the life of a loved one who has passed. They represent renewal and remembrance, and often show up in funeral arrangements.
Lilies have a wonderful and unmistakable scent. ‘Casa Blanca’ is noteworthy in this way, as it has a considerable fragrance and stunning, pure white flowers. The blooms are spectacular in every way. Large, fragrant, and impossible to overlook, this lily carried the distinction of an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
‘Casa Blanca’ is an oriental lily that blooms in the summer, and makes wonderful cut flowers. They prefer partial shade in warm climates, and though they aren’t picky about soil, they do need considerable moisture.
Blue Flag Iris
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botanical name Iris versicolor |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 24”-36” |
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hardiness zones 3-9 |
Blue flag irises are a traditional choice for Memorial Day flower arrangements. They symbolize peace and loyalty, with the three main petals symbolic of faith, courage, and wisdom. They are native to the United States, and their lovely blue-violet color makes them perfect for completing the palette of a patriotic display.
Blooming in late spring, blue flag irises are tall and slender with beautiful straplike leaves. They like a considerable amount of water, and thrive in marshy areas where other plants might not be happy; they can even grow in standing water! Irises prefer full sun in cool climates and partial shade in places with hot summers.
Carnation
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botanical name Dianthus caryophyllus |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 10”-4’ |
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hardiness zones 6-9 |
Carnation flowers have a long history of association with traditional Memorial Day remembrances and memorials in general. White carnations, specifically, symbolize patriotism, as well as remembrance. Red carnations symbolize admiration. They are sturdy flowers that are excellent for wreaths and other arrangements meant to endure and weather well.
Carnations are evergreen in warm climates and bloom beginning in late spring and continuing until mid-summer. Deadheading them regularly will keep them blooming through the 4th of July. They prefer partial shade in hot climates and well-drained soil with a slightly alkaline pH.
Gladiolus
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botanical name Gladiolus spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1’-6’ |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
Gladiolus is a perfect flower for Memorial Day. These tall, stately flowers symbolize moral character, integrity, virtue, and strength. The name comes from the Latin word ‘gladius‘, which means sword, making it even more appropriate for commemorating soldiers.
Gladoliuses are easy to grow. They are bulb plants that grow best in groupings where they can support each other. These flowers grow quite tall, and the large blossoms can topple the stems as they open toward the top. They bloom from the bottom up, with each stem holding 10 or more flowers, giving them an extra-long vase life.
Rose
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botanical name Rosa spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 2’-20’ |
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hardiness zones 3-11 |
There are few occasions when roses are not an appropriate choice. Planting a beautiful rose bush is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or commemorate Memorial Day in general. Red roses are a symbol of bravery and esteem, an excellent tribute to those who served.
The official ‘Memorial Day’ rose is a stunning pink tea rose with a classic rose fragrance. It’s an All-American Award winner, and I can think of few flowers that are more appropriate for the occasion. A red or white cultivar would be equally appropriate. Plant your rose shrub in a sunny spot with rich, loamy soil.
Hydrangea
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botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla |
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sun requirements Partial to full shade |
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height 3’-6’ |
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hardiness zones 6-11 |
Hydrangeas are a wonderful way to add blue to a patriotic garden combination. The large, decorative flower heads are dramatic and soft at the same time. The flowers in general symbolize sincerity, deep emotions, and gratitude. Blue varieties represent loyalty and unity.
Hydrangeas are sturdy perennials that prefer partial shade and rich, moist, acidic soil. They thrive in a wide range of environments, and once established, they need little additional care aside from pruning and fertilizing. They begin blooming in late spring and continue until the fall.
