Embrace your birth month with the enchanting beauty of your unique birth flower
You may wonder what the September birth flower is: September has two birth flowers: the Aster and the Morning Glory.
There are two birth flowers in September to offer more variety and choices for individuals to associate with their birth month. The tradition of assigning flowers to specific months dates back to ancient times, with various cultures having their own lists of flowers for each month. Over time, these lists have evolved and merged, resulting in multiple flowers being associated with each month in the modern era.
For September, the two birth flowers are Aster and Morning Glory. Having two birth flowers per month allows people to choose the flower that they feel a stronger connection with or prefer based on appearance, meaning, or symbolism. Additionally, this provides an opportunity for florists and gift-givers to have more options when selecting flowers for birthdays or other celebrations related to a person’s birth month. In some cases, one of the flowers might be more readily available or have a longer blooming season, making it a more practical choice for certain regions or times of the year.
Overall, the inclusion of two birth flowers per month enriches the tradition and offers greater flexibility, personalization, and variety for those who enjoy connecting with the symbolism and meanings associated with birth flowers.
Description: Asters are flowering plants belonging to the Asteraceae family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers. Asters have a central disk surrounded by many slender petals, creating a star-like appearance. The Asteraceae family is one of the largest plant families and contains over 23,000 species. Asters can be divided into several main groups, including New England asters, New York asters, and European Michaelmas daisies.
Growth habit: Asters are perennial plants with an upright, bushy growth habit. They typically grow 1-6 feet (30-180 cm) tall and 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) wide, depending on the variety. Asters have lance-shaped to linear leaves that are usually arranged alternately along the stem.
Flowers: Asters produce an abundance of daisy-like flowers with a central disk and numerous slender petals. The central disk is usually yellow, while the petals come in various colors, such as white, pink, purple, red, and blue
Blooming season: Asters generally bloom from late summer to early fall, providing color in the garden when many other plants have finished flowering.
Hardiness: Most asters are hardy plants that can be grown in USDA zones 4-8, depending on the variety.
Sunlight and soil: Asters prefer full sun to light shade and well-draining soil.
Garden uses: Asters are popular in mixed borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, and as a nectar source for pollinators like butterflies and bees.
History: Asters have a rich history dating back to ancient times, with these flowers being prized for their beauty and medicinal properties. The name “aster” is derived from the Greek word for “star,” which refers to the star-like shape of the flowers. In ancient Greece, it was believed that asters originated from the tears of the goddess Astraea, who wept over the Earth after being saddened by its corruption.
Asters have been used in traditional medicine across various cultures, with some species employed to treat ailments such as coughs, colds, and digestive issues.
Meaning: Asters symbolize love, wisdom, faith, and patience. They are often associated with the enchantment and wonder of the stars and are sometimes given as a symbol of good fortune or as a token of admiration and appreciation. The various colors of asters also carry specific meanings, with red symbolizing devotion, white representing purity and purple conveying spirituality.
The symbolism and meaning of asters can be traced back to their historical and cultural associations. For example, in ancient Rome, wreaths made of asters were placed on altars as offerings to the gods. In Victorian times, asters were used in the “language of flowers” to communicate feelings of love and admiration that could not be spoken aloud. Today, asters continue to be popular for their beauty and symbolic meanings, often featuring in gardens and floral arrangements.
Why they have been selected: Asters have been selected and cultivated for their beautiful, star-like flowers and their ability to add color to the garden in late summer and early fall. Their symbolic meanings and attractive appearance make them a popular choice for gardens and floral arrangements.
Fun fact: Asters have been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, such as coughs, colds, and digestive issues.
Description: Morning glories are flowering plants belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. They are known for their trumpet-shaped flowers that come in various colors, including blue, purple, pink, red, and white.
Growth habit: Morning glories are fast-growing, annual, or perennial vines that can reach lengths of 6-10 feet (180-300 cm) or more, depending on the variety. They use their twining stems to climb and cover fences, trellises, or other supports.
Flowers: Morning glory flowers are trumpet-shaped with a tubular structure, measuring around 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) across. They bloom in various colors, often with a contrasting throat.
Blooming season: Morning glories generally bloom from early summer to early fall, with flowers opening in the morning and closing by the afternoon, hence their name.
Hardiness: Morning glories are typically grown as annuals, but some species are perennial in warmer climates (USDA zones 9-11).
Sunlight and soil: Morning glories prefer full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.
Garden uses: Morning glories are popular for covering fences, trellises, walls, or other vertical supports. They can also be grown in containers or hanging baskets.
History: Morning glories have been cultivated for centuries for their beautiful flowers and, in some species, their medicinal and psychoactive properties. Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, morning glories have been grown and admired in various cultures around the world.
In traditional medicine, morning glory has been used to treat a variety of ailments, such as digestive issues, inflammation, and wound healing. Some species, such as Ipomoea tricolor, produce seeds containing the psychoactive compound LSA (lysergic acid amide), which has similar effects to LSD. These seeds have been used in religious and shamanic rituals in some Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Aztecs.
Throughout history, morning glories have been valued for their beauty, with many hybrid varieties developed for their unique colors and flower forms. The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), a close relative of the morning glory, is an important food crop that also shares similar flower characteristics.
Meaning: Morning glories symbolize love, affection, and the fleeting nature of life. Their brief blooming period, with flowers opening in the morning and closing by the afternoon, serves as a reminder to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of each day. They also represent new beginnings as they greet each day with their vibrant blooms.
The symbolism of morning glories can vary slightly across cultures, but the themes of love, appreciation, and the ephemeral beauty of life remain consistent. They are often used in gardens and floral arrangements to convey these meanings and add a touch of vibrant color and charm.
Why they have been selected: Morning glories have been selected for their attractive, trumpet-shaped flowers and their ability to quickly cover vertical surfaces in the garden. Their symbolic meanings and unique blooming habits make them a popular choice for gardens and floral arrangements.
Fun fact: The flowers of some morning glory species can change color throughout the day, starting with a vibrant hue in the morning and fading to a different shade by the afternoon.
| Plant Type | Climbers, Perennials, Shrubs |
|---|---|
| Genus | Ipomoea, Aster |
Oleksiichik, Shutterstock, 123rf
| Plant Type | Climbers, Perennials, Shrubs |
|---|---|
| Genus | Ipomoea, Aster |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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