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Throughout history, flowers have carried cultural significance around the world, from lotus blossoms in Buddhist and Hindu traditions to cherry blossoms in Japan, peonies in China, and roses, whose association with love spans generations and transcends cultures.

But few flowers hold as powerful a place in remembrance as the marigold (Tagetes erecta), especially on Nov. 1 and 2, when Latino communities celebrate Día de los Muertos , or Day of the Dead .

In Mexico, the flowers are known as cempasúchil, which translates from the Aztec language Nahuatl as “flower of 20 petals.” They are often called African marigolds despite being native to Mexico.

And they serve an important role in connecting families to their ancestors .

On Día de los Muertos, marigolds are used to decorate altars and shrines that hold candles, photographs, favorite foods and the personal belongings of departed loved ones.…