What does a rosebud signify on a headstone? ROSE: Not only do roses represent earthly passion (just think how many are given at Valentine’s Day) but they also stand for heavenly perfection. When carved on a headstone, roses nearly always have 3 leaves. A quick look at my backyard rose bush confirmed that this is not botanically accurate! Symbolically, however, this trio of leaves represents the holy trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Rosebuds most often appear on the graves of children and teens as a way of expressing that they were not able to achieve their full potential. A…