Best Low-Maintenance Plants for a Grave

Most families can only visit a grave every week or two, and many cemeteries have no hose. The best grave plants are tough, low-growing and happy with little water. Here are reliable choices for cemeteries across Canada and the northern US.

Perennials for full sun

These come back year after year and cope with heat:

• Sedum (stonecrop) — succulent, drought-proof, flowers in late summer.
• Creeping thyme — fragrant, low and tough.
• Lavender — hardy varieties survive cold winters; lovely scent.
• Daylilies — very hardy, but choose dwarf varieties to stay low.
• Hens and chicks — tiny succulents that need almost no care.

Plants for shade

Under cemetery trees, try:

• Hostas — classic shade plant; may need protection from deer.
• Lily of the valley — fragrant spring flowers, but spreads quickly.
• Ferns — soft and green; see fern symbolism.
• Periwinkle (vinca) — evergreen groundcover with blue flowers.

Annuals for colour

If you visit often enough to water:

• Marigolds — bright, tough and traditional for Día de los Muertos.
• Begonias — good in partial shade.
• Portulaca (moss rose) — loves heat and dry soil.
• Geraniums — classic, long-flowering grave plants.

Plants to avoid

• Tall shrubs that hide the lettering or need pruning.
• Climbing vines like ivy that grip and stain granite.
• Invasive spreaders such as mint, which creep into neighbouring graves.
• Trees — roots can lift foundations. Plant a memorial tree elsewhere instead.

Winter care

In cold regions, cut back perennials in late autumn, add a light mulch, and remove pots that could freeze and crack. See protecting a headstone in winter.

Key Takeaways

• Sedum, thyme and hens and chicks need almost no water.
• Hostas, ferns and periwinkle suit shaded graves.
• Avoid climbers, tall shrubs and invasive spreaders.
• Check cemetery planting rules before you start.

Next Step

See planting flowers on a grave for rules and planting tips.