Daily AncestorDogwood
A dogwood blossom on a gravestone stands for hope and the resurrection; Christian legend links its four petals to the cross.
The four-petaled dogwood blooms in spring, which made it a sign of renewal and hope of life after death. A National Park Service guide to Kentucky cemeteries notes it among common motifs there.
A Christian legend says the cross was made of dogwood: the petals form a cross, their marks are the nails and the center is the crown of thorns.
As seen in a recordSouthern rural cemetery, 1880 to 1950
Dogwood blossoms framing the name: Nancy Jane Coomer, Apr. 2, 1861, Feb. 17, 1925
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Dogwood." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/gravestone-symbols/dogwood. Last checked 2026-10-15.