A

Absinth/Wormwood –separation, torment of love

Acacia - immortality of soul, platonic love, concealed love

Acanthus - heavenly garden

Aconite/Monkshood– misanthropy, poisonous words

Adams Needle – a friend in need

Adonis – recollection of life’s pleasure

Almond – virginity and fruitfulness

Aloe – wisdom, integrity

Allspice – compassion

Alyssum – worth beyond beauty

Amaranth – fidelity

Amaranth, globe – unchangeable

Amaryllis – pride

Ambrosia – your love is reciprocated

Anemone – refusal and abandonment, forsaken

American Eagle – Eternal vigilance and universal liberty.  Frequently surrounded by the Stars and Stripes.

Anchor – Hope, occupational symbol of seamen

Anchor, with broken chain – cessation of life

Angel – agent of God, rebirth, resurrection, protection, judgment, wisdom, mercy, divine love

Angel, with horn - Gabriel

Angel, with sword – Michael

Ankh – eternal life, truth, peace

Apple – perpetual concord

Apricot blossom – timid love

Arbor Vitae – true friendship

Arbutus – I only love you

Arch – victory in death

Arrow – mortality

Artemesia – dignity

Asphodel – regret, languor

Aster – love, daintiness

Azalea – fragile and ephemeral passion

B

Baby’s Breath – happiness

Bay wreath – reward of merit

Beehive – piety, domestic virtue, education, faith

Begonia – fanciful

Bell – mourning

Bindweed – busybody, coquette

Bird – eternal life, winged soul

Bittersweet – truth

Blue bell – humility

Book – the Divine word, one’s accomplishments, education

Book, closed – life is over

Broken or draped column – early death, grief

Burning flame – life or resurrection

Buttercup - childishness

Butterfly – Short lived, an early death, resurrection

C

Cactus – endurance, bravery

Calla lily - symbolizes marriage

Camellia – steadfastness

Chamomile – initiative, ingenuity

Candle – the soul, Jesus the Light of the World

Candytuft – indifference

Canterburybell – constancy

Cardinal Flower – splendor, distinction

Carnation – fascination

Cedar – I live for thee

Clematis – ingenuity, mental beauty

Celtic Cross– faith, eternity

Chain – soul bound to the body

Chain, with broken links – release of the spirit from the body

Chain, with three links – trinity, Odd Fellows

Chalice, with circle – the Eucharist

Chestnut – independence

Chrysanthemum – friendship

Cinquefoil - maternal affection, beloved daughter

Clover – fertility

Clover, four leafed – good luck

Columbine – deserted love

Column – noble life

Column, broken – The head of the family

Coreopsis – cheerful

Corn - it was a country custom to send a sheaf to relatives on the death of a farmer. It may be used as an occupational symbol.

Cornflower – delicacy

Crocus - youthful gladness, cheerfulness

Cross – Christ’s death, faith

Crown – Glory of life after death

Crown upon skull – triumph of death

Cup or Chalice – The Sacrament

Cyclamen – goodbye, resignation

Cypress – hope

D

Daffodil - death of youth, desire, art, grace, beauty, deep regard, unrequited love

Dahlia – good taste

Daisy – innocence of child, youth, gentleness, purity of thought, loyal love

Dandelion – oracle of time and love, faithfulness, happiness

Day Lily – mother

Delphinium – airy

Dog – loyalty

Dogwood – Christianity, divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life

Dolphin – bearing of soul across water to heaven, salvation

Door – entrance to heaven

Dove – innocence, gentleness and affection.  In scripture it is used as the typical emblem or symbol of the Holy Ghost

E

Edelweiss – daring, noble courage

Elderberry – humility, kindness

Eye - humility

Eye of Ra/Horus – Sun/Moon, Life/Death, protection against evil

F

Fennel – strength

Fern - sincerity, sorrow, confidence, magic

Finger pointing downward – calling the earth to witness

Finger pointing upward – pathway to heaven, heavenly reward

Fir – time

Fish – faith, life, spiritual nourishment

Flag – military, patriotism

Fleur de leis – perfection, light, life, royalty

Flying bird – rebirth

Forget-me-not – faithful love, memories

Forsythia – anticipation

Frog – worldly pleasure, sin

Fuchsia – amiability

G

Gardenia – I love you in secret

Garland– victory over death

Geranium – preference

Gladiolus – strength of character

Gloxinia – love at first sight

Goldenrod – treasure and good fortune

Grapes - represent Christ

Grapes and Leaves - Christian faith

Grim Reaper – inevitability of death

Gun – military service

H

Hands, clasped – farewell, hope of meeting in eternity

Hawthorn - hope, merriness, springtime

Harp – Praise to the maker.worship in heaven, hope

Heart – love, devotion, sorrow, joy, mortality

Heart, flaming – religious fervor

Heart, pierced by sword – Virgin Mary, Christ, repentance

Heliotrope – devotion, eternal love

Hibiscus – delicate beauty

Holly – foresight

Hollyhock – ambition

Honeysuckle - bonds of love, generosity and devoted affection, sweetness

Horse – courage, generosity

Horseshoe – protection against evil

Hour Glass – With wings of time attached – representing time flying – shortness of life

HIS – eternity

Hyacinth – games & sports

Hydrangea – vanity, frigidity

I

Iris – faith, wisdom, valor

Isis - rebirth

Ivy – Friendship and immortality, undying affection, fidelity

L

Lamb – innocence

Laurel – fame, victory, triumph

Lavender - constancy

Lily –innocence and purity, sometimes chastity

Lily, calla – majestic beauty

Lily of the Valley - Virgin Mary, rebirth

Lion – courage, bravery, strength, the power of God, guardian against evil spirits

Lotus - purity, resurrection, perfect beauty

M

Magnolia – dignity, splendid beauty

Menorah – divine wisdom

Mistletoe – immortality

Moon – death, rebirth, victory, sorrow of the crucifixion

Morning Glory – beginning of life

Myrtle – undying love, peace

N

Nasturtium -patriotism

O

Oak leaf – strength of faith, endurance

Oak Leaves and Acorn – Maturity or a ripe old age

Olive branch – peace, forgiveness, humanity

Open gates – afterlife, the soul entering heaven

Orange blossom – innocence, eternal love

Orb – faith

Orchid – magnificence, love, beauty

Owl – wisdom, solitude, a warning of impending death

P

Pall – mortality, mourning

Palm Branch – Victory and rejoicing

Pansy – remembrance, meditation

Peacock - symbolized the incorruptibility of flesh, resurrection, beauty of soul, immortality

Periwinkle – friendship, memory

Phoenix -  symbolized the incorruptibility of flesh, resurrection, beauty of soul, immortality

Pine – immortality

Pinecone – life’s renewal

Poppy – Sleep

Primrose – young love

Pyramid – eternal life

Q

Queen Anne’s Lace– fantasy

R

Rainbow – fulfillment of the promise of resurrection

Ring, broken – The family circle severed

Rod or Staff – comfort to the bereaved

Rooster-  awakening, courage, vigilance

Rope circle - eternity

Rosebud – morning of life, a child 12 or under

Rose, full blown – prime of life

Rose, partial bloom – a teenager

Rose, red – martyrdom

Rose, white – purity, virginity

S

Scallop shell – birth, baptism, life everlasting

Scarab – resurrection, transcendence

Scepter – fortitude

Scroll – life, time

Scythe – death, cutting life short

Serpent- when shown swallowing its own tail, it represents Eternity

Severed branch – mortality

Shamrock – Trinity, Irish descent

Shepherd’s Crook – charity

Skeleton – death

Skull & crossed bones – death

Sleeping cherub – innocence

Snapdragon – presumption, deception, gracious

Spider Web – human frailty

Squirrel with a nut - religious meditation or spiritual striving

Star – divine guidance

Star of David – Judaism, divine protection, unity, transformation

Steps – 3 tiered – faith, hope and charity

Sun disc, winged – spirituality, everlasting life

Sun, rising – renewed life, resurrection

Sun, setting – death

Sun, shinning – everlasting life

Sunflower – devotion, homage

Swallow – motherhood

Sword, broken – life cut short

Sword, inverted – relinquishment of power, victory

Sword, sheathed – temperance

Sword – military

Swords, crossed – life lost in battle

T

Thistle – Scottish descent, earthly sorrow, defiance

Torch, inverted – life extinguished

Torch – immortality, purification, truth

Tree - life, knowledge

Tree, sprouting – life everlasting

Tree, stump – life interrupted

Tuberose – dangerous pleasures

Tulip – perfect love

U

Urn, with blaze – Undying friendship

V

Violet – humility, simplicity, modesty

W

Water lily – eloquence, persuasion

Weeping Willow – mourning, grief, lamentation, sorrow

Wheat – body of Christ

Wheat, a sheaf – Ripe for the harvest, old age, a fruitful life

Wheel – cycle of life, spiritual power

Winged face – effigy of the deceased soul, the soul in flight

Winged hourglass – mortality, fleetness of life

Winged skull – flight of the soul from mortal man

Wreath – victory

Wreath, of roses – heavenly joy and bliss

Wreath, on skull – victory of death over life

Z

Zinnia – lasting affection