Cosmos on a Headstone: Meaning

Cosmos flowers sway on slender stems in pink, white and crimson, blooming from midsummer until frost. Their name — and their meaning — is all about harmony.

What it means

A flower named for order

Kosmos is Greek for order and harmony — the same word we use for the universe. Spanish priests in Mexico, where the flower is native, are said to have named it for its evenly spaced petals. Cosmos is one of the traditional birth flowers for October, and its easy, cheerful nature has made it a cottage-garden favourite.

Design ideas

• Swaying cosmos along the base of the stone.
• A single bloom above the name.
• Pink and white colour-fill on grey granite.
• Cosmos with stars — a nod to the wider cosmos.

Who it suits

Peaceful, balanced people; gardeners; those born in October; and stargazers, for whom the name has a double meaning. See flower meanings.

A double meaning

For someone who loved astronomy as well as gardening, cosmos flowers beneath a field of stars make a clever, gentle design: the flower and the universe share the same name. See headstone ideas for an astronomer.

Easy, lasting colour

Cosmos is easy to grow from seed and self-sows freely, so families sometimes scatter seeds in a memorial garden at home. On the stone, soft colour-fill keeps that cheerful palette all year.

Epitaphs to pair

• At peace with the universe.
• Harmony and love.
• A gentle, peaceful soul.
• Now part of the stars.

Key Takeaways

• Cosmos means harmony, peace and order.
• Its name is Greek for order.
• It's an October birth flower.
• Pair with stars for a double meaning.

Next Step

See zinnia meaning and daisy meaning.