September Birth Flower – There’s More in a Name

“A maiden born when autumn leaves

Are rustling in September’s breeze.

A Sapphire on her brow should bind;

To bring her joy and peace of mind.”

Truth, sincerity, constancy — characteristics of September’s birthstone, Sapphire. We gift someone jewelry containing their birthstone to wish them good luck and protection. Most people know their birthstone but few know that each month has a corresponding birth flower. What are September’s birth flower and message when sending flowers?

ASTERS

Greek goddess Asterea cried because earth lacked stars; Asters grew from where her tears fell. Hence, Asters are a love charm having mystical powers. Asters are named after the shape of its flower head, the Greek word for star. Like stars in the sky, Asters can be found everywhere because they grow in tropics to cooler regions of the North. And whatever country you may be in, including Sweden, France, Spain, Netherlands, they are still called Asters.

Symbolism of Aster Flower Bouquet:

  • Afterthought.
  • Patience 
  • Talisman of Love
  • Faith, Wisdom, Light
  • Take Care of Yourself for Me
  • 20th Wedding Anniversary flowers

Asters are part of the Asteraceae family of approximately 600 species. Also known as Michaelmas Daisy, Starwort, Frost flowers, an Aster is a collection of very tiny tubular flowers around a yellow central disk giving the illusion of a single flower. They come in a rainbow of colors — white, red, pink, purple, lavender, blue.

Though Asters are easy to mistake for daisies, they are smaller and are closely related to chrysanthemums. Asters are ideal as a tabletop flower bouquet or center arrangement on its own or complementing other flowers.

MORNING GLORY

Heavenly Blue, Crimson Rambler, Pearly Gates — monikers for this flower America has as an alternative September birth flower. The Japanese call them Asagao. Asa meaning morning; kao for face.

Its name says it all: flowers that bloom in the morning, but by afternoon starts dying. A large open saucer-shaped flower, it is easily pollinated by birds and bees bringing new blooms daily. This flower represents Love in Vain.

Morning Glory is a common name for over 1000 species in Convolvulaceae family. It grows as a vine producing white, blue, red, pink, purple and yellow flowers.

FORGET ME NOT

The flower of remembrance, the most romantic tale behind it name is: A medieval knight, walking with his maiden along a riverbank, stopped to pick a flower bouquet but fell into the river due to the weigh of his armor. As he drowned, he threw the flower bouquet to his maiden and shouted, “forget me not!”.

Other Tales

  • Christian legend tells of the child Jesus sitting on Mary’s lap wishing future generations would remember them. He waved his hand and blue forget-me-nots appeared.
  • In German legend, God had named all plants when a tiny unnamed one shouted, “Forget me not, O Lord!”. The Lord responded, “That shall be your name.”

Symbol of Remembrance

  • Canadian Newfoundlanders have worn them to remember the nation’s war dead
  • After World War II, Freemasons used these flowers in memory of masons who suffered under the Nazis
  • Aster flower bouquet is usually given to family members or friends of someone who passed away
  • Canada’s Alzheimer Society has adopted these flowers are their symbol 

Express True and Faithful Love, Luck and Hope

  • 15th century Germany said that lovers would not forget wearers
  • King Henry IV of England adopted this flower as his personal good luck charm
  • Sometimes given out by companies to clients in hopeful reminder of their brand

Forget-Me-Nots, British alternative September birth flower, belong to the genus Myosotis. Around 50 species of tiny delicate flowers with flat 5-lobed blue or purple, pink, white petals with yellow centers exist.

Throughout history, lovers have gifted a flower bouquet to each to express longing, devotion, love. When sending flowers, understanding their birth flower is a great way to go. The tales behind the flower bouquet can be entertaining, but always, a flower bouquet has a language of its own.