Plants of the Underworld
The fact plants spend half their lives underground was not lost on Greek mythology, which considered them a bridge to the Underworld (after all the chthonic gods also watched over agriculture), but some plants were specifically dedicated to these gods, and counted as their favorites.
Pomegranates were the fruits of Persephone, embodying the wisdom, plenty, and accomplishments of maturity.
In the afterlife myths it was to the Asphodel Meadows, and not to the Elysian Fields, that most people were sent to spend eternity.
These ghostly flowers were sacred to Hades and symbolized death and rebirth; Persephone is often depicted wearing a crown of asphodels.
Their name sometimes gets them mistaken for daffodils, which are also among the goddess’ favorite flowers. One version of the legend says the flowers Persephone was picking when Hades snatched her and took her to his realm were daffodils.
The elm tree stood guard at the entrance to Hades, roosting the spirits of dreams in its branches.
Finally, cypress, the mournful tree, which, despite its funeral vibe, is a symbol of everlasting life.
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