Caring for a grave doesn't require much care if the right grave planting is chosen. Year-round and winter-hardy ground cover plants are ideal here. These can be evergreen and flowering at certain times.
Shady locations
In the cemeteries there are always corners in which many tall trees are planted. On the graves, it is important to choose plants that can cope well with the shade. There are also a few ground cover plants, but there are still a few species that do well in a shady location or do not want any sunlight at all:
Common ivy (Hedera helix)
- actually climbing plant
- can be grown as a ground cover plant
- evergreen with autumn colors
- green and yellow inconspicuous flowers
- Flowering from September to October
- then blue or black fruits
- shady location preferred
- cut when overgrowth threatens
Pennigkraut (Lysimachia nummularia)
- Primrose family (Primulaceae)
- Swamp Plant
- requires a lot of water
- up to five centimeters high
- evergreen
- golden yellow flowers from May to July
- nutrient-rich soil preferred
- fertilize frequently
- pruning in autumn
- Otherwise it will spread to other plants
- Partly shaded to shady location
- avoid full sun
Star Moss (Sagina subulata)
- Caryophyllaceae family
- also known as Awl's Mastwort
- up to five centimeters high
- carpet-forming
- Planting distance 20 centimeters
- white star-shaped flowers
- from June to August
- Partly shaded to shady location
- can be propagated by division
- fertilize now and then
Tip:
Especially in a cemetery, there is a lot of shade due to the tall trees that are often planted, especially in summer. Therefore, for each grave, particular attention should be paid to how compatible the chosen ground cover is with shade or sun.
Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
- Rubiaceae family
- also known as maywort or liverwort
- up to 30 centimeters high
- carpet-forming
- white flowers in April and May
- shady to semi-shady location
- like under deciduous trees
- lime-loving
- little to no fertilizer
- Protect with leaves and branches in winter
- Reproduction by division
Partially shaded locations
Partially shaded locations are usually the norm in a cemetery. Because so that grave visitors don't have to stay in the blazing sun, most communities prefer to have trees that are tall enough to grow in the cemeteries so that shade can be sought again and again. Most of the graves here are in partial shade. The right plants under the ground cover, which are also hardy, should be planted here:
Blue bobbed hair (Isotoma)
- Campanulaceae family
- also known as false or carpet lobelia
- three to five centimeters high
- sensitive to limescale
- white and blue flowers
- Flowering from May to October
- needs regular fertilizer applications
- evergreen
- forms red and purple berries in winter
- partially shaded to sunny location
Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
- Ranunculaceae family
- also known as witchweed
- up to twenty centimeters high
- white flower fields from February to May
- Cultures with blue flowers available
- partially shaded location
- lime-loving
- fertilize once in spring before budding
- Caution poisonous
- allergenic when touched
Ladies Mantle (Alchemilla)
- Rosaceae family
- yellowish-green flowers all summer long
- carpet-forming
- Height between fifteen and fifty centimeters depending on the variety
- no direct sunlight
- Partum shade is preferred
- fertilize in spring and summer
- do not prune in autumn, withered leaves protect against frost
Evergreen (Vinca minor)
- Apocynaceae family
- particularly suitable as a border plant on a grave
- up to ten centimeters high
- Flowering in April and May
- bulb flowers can also be placed in between
- Sprinkle snowdrops or crocuses for naturalization
- is supplied with nutrients by falling leaves
- cut back in spring
- partially shaded location
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri)
- Rosaceae family
- also called loquat
- Dwarf shrub with branches lying flat on the ground
- between five and fifteen centimeters high
- carpet-forming
- pink and white flowers in May and June
- red berries in autumn
- Berries are poisonous
- sunny to partially shaded location
Lippenmäulchen (Mazus reptans)
- Phrymaceae family
- gets about ten centimeters high
- white or blue-violet flowers in butterfly shape
- Blossom in spring
- sunny to partially shaded location
- very robust plant
- Fertilization not required
- cut into shape in spring or autumn
Cushion Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)
- Campanulaceae family
- Height up to fifteen centimeters
- evergreen
- Flowering from June to September
- white, purple, or blue bell-shaped flowers
- Partial shade to sun desired
- lime-loving
- fertilizer every few weeks during flowering
- cut off dried ones
- Propagate by division
Tip:
So that the winter-hardy ground cover can grow well, it is advisable to plant it in spring in early summer at the latest.
Sunny locations
In a cemetery there are always places and places that get a lot of sun and can therefore be described as sunny locations. So that the planted flowers and plants do not wither so quickly, they should belong to the group of sun-loving plants:
Blue Pillow (Aubrieta)
- Cruciferous family (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae)
- up to ten centimeters high
- evergreen
- Planting distance 30 centimeters
- Carpet of flowers in April and May
- not only blue-violet but also pink and white
- many different breeds available
- sunny location
- no fertilizer needed
- lime-loving
Note:
For all ground cover plants presented here, you only need to supply them with water in very dry periods. At all other times the falling rain is sufficient.
Thick Scar (Paxistima canbyi)
- Spindle shrub family (Celastraceae)
- ground-covering dwarf shrub
- up to thirty centimeters high
- light to partially shaded location
- Planting thirty centimeters apart
- brown-red flowers in May
- sunny location
- cut back lightly once a year
- easy care
Carnation (Armeria)
- Caryophyllaceae family
- up to 20 centimeters high
- Flowering from May to September
- white or pink
- evergreen leaves
- rumbling
- Planting distance about 20 centimeters
- sunny location
- Pruning in February for new shoot formation
- fertilize moderately
Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
- Cypress family (Cupressaceae)
- Dwarf shrub
- up to twenty centimeters high
- very densely growing
- Bloom April to May
- inconspicuous flowers
- forms poisonous black fruits after flowering
- stay on the bush in winter
- sunny location
- evergreen coniferous plant
Note:
Hardy ground cover plants not only provide a green carpet all year round, you can even hope that you will no longer have to remove weeds if you use one or more of these plants as grave plants in the cemetery.
Cushion Phlox (Phlox subulata)
- Phlox family
- also known as carpet phlox
- up to 15 centimeters high
- dark green, evergreen leaves
- red, pink, white, blue or purple star flowers
- abundant blooms in spring
- sunny location
- Partial shade results in fewer flowers
- Fertilizer is not needed
- cut after the first flowering, new flowers will form
- cover with leaves or branches in winter
Tip:
If you plant ground cover plants on a grave that are hardy, then you should make sure to choose different varieties that bloom at different times. This grave planting means that one or two splashes of color can be seen between the evergreen plants all year round.
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
- Asteraceae or Compositae family
- also Roman carpet or lawn chamomile
- up to fifteen centimeters high
- Flowering from July to October
- double white flowers
- sunny location
- steady
- no fertilizer required
Carpetaster (Aster pansus)
- Asteraceae or Compositae family
- creeper
- up to fifteen centimeters high
- carpet-forming
- star-shaped white flowers
- Flowers frost resistant
- Blooming begins in September or October
- sunny to partially shaded location
- fertilize once in spring
- rejuvenate and multiply by division
