Flowers are always a great gift, regardless of who you receive them from. It even becomes better when someone takes the extra mile and gives you your birth flower.
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about September birth flowers, including their origin, meaning, and even some care tips.
What are the September birth flowers?
The month of September has two beautiful birth flowers, aster and morning glory. They are known for being rich in symbolism and for their distinct blooms.
Some of the most common symbolism associated with them are undying love, nobility, wisdom, and purity.
Everything You Need to Know about the Aster
One of the birth flowers of September is the aster. Despite its weedy nature, its breathtaking colors and beautiful shape have captured the hearts of many over the years.
Basic Facts about the Aster
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Aster
Life Cycle: Perennials
Sun Exposure: Full sun, part sun
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Asters are a member of the Asteraceae family, which also includes dahlias, chrysanthemums, daisies, and dandelions. They bloom from late summer through fall.
Asters are hardy perennials, meaning they can adapt to whatever environment they’re planted in.
Currently, there are about 600 aster varieties. The most popular are New England asters, China asters, and the Monte Casino.
In common usage, the term “aster” only refers to European and Asian species. Symphyotrichum is used to refer to asters that grow in North America.
Physical Characteristics of the Aster
The petals of aster flowers can be any color, although they are most commonly blue, purple, red, white, and pink with a yellow center. They may be double, semi-double, or single bloom and have petals that can be flat and thin or tube-shaped.
Its yellow center is composed of numerous tiny flowers called flowerets, which allows bees to pollinate the flower easily.
Asters can be as small as 1 centimeter or as large as 13 centimeters in diameter. Their heights can range anywhere from 30 centimeters to 1 meter.
Dark green in color, aster leaves can be long, narrow, and pointed like its flower petals.
Asters are known to be weedy, which may not be pleasing to many. However, their beautiful blooms provide a dazzling splash of color when planted in a landscape, so many still continue to plant them.
Origin of the Aster
Asters were first seen in Greece, which explains why the flowers carry so much significance in the country and its history. The flower’s name is also derived from the Greek word “asteri,” which means “star,” a name that suits its star-like shape.
Asters were also seen in other parts of Europe and Asia before they were imported to other parts of the world.
Aster flowers were traditionally burnt or smoked to remove and disperse bad energy. They were considered sacred flowers by those who believed that they were a Greek goddess’s tears.
Additionally, indigenous people used asters medicinally to cure common ailments, including headaches, flu, and muscle pain.
Cultural Significance of Asters
Asters carry a lot of cultural and religious significance in many countries. They have been used at the start of a revolution and to convey emotion, and they were even believed to be closely related to goddesses and angels.
In this section, we’ll explore more about the significance of asters in different periods in Europe and in different mythologies and religions.
Significance of Asters in Different Periods in Europe
Mythological and Religious Significance of Asters
Meaning and Symbolism of the Aster
Asters, in general, symbolize wisdom, faith, love, patience, royalty, purity, and devotion.
Many use their different colors to express their feelings in a more precise manner, as each color symbolizes a different emotion.
Everything You Need to Know about the Morning Glory
The other September Flower is the morning glory, which you’ve probably seen in a lot of home gardens. The flower provides a burst of color and a great aesthetic to pathways and walls.
Basic Facts about the Morning Glory
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea
Life Cycle: Annuals, perennials
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Morning glories belong to the Convolvulaceae family under the Ipomoea genus. Most of them are annuals, but a few varieties are perennials.
Morning glories bloom from late summer to fall. They can survive even in cold weather, so you’ll still find some of them during the first frost.
They are known to bloom in the morning and close again at night, but a few varieties bloom at night and continue to flower throughout the day.
Physical Characteristics of the Morning Glory
Morning glories bloom in a trumpet-head-like and sometimes almost heart-like shape. They come in a wide variety of colors like white, yellow, purple, and pink, the most popular being blue.
Unlike other flowers that have strong fragrances, only a few varieties of morning glories have a distinctive smell.
Most morning glories grow in vines, so you’ll often find them enveloping walls or trellises. Rare varieties of the flower, though, bloom as freestanding flowers.
Origin of the Morning Glory
Ipomoea purpurea, or the common morning glory many of us know, originated in the subtropics of Mesoamerica. On the other hand, the Ipomoea nil species were first seen in China.
Morning glories were first used for medicinal purposes. They have laxative properties in their seeds, which was of great help to many, especially to the Chinese people who discovered them.
In addition to this, many Aztec priests discovered the hallucinogenic properties of these flowers and used them.
They were also used to create latex. Some species even contain sulfur which was used for vulcanizing rubbers.
Today, morning glories are used primarily as ornaments because of their beautiful and colorful blooms.
Meaning and Symbolism of the Morning Glory
Morning glories are used to symbolize undying love and devotion, one that’s unreciprocated and filled with longing. This symbolism has to be because of the fact that the flower blooms around the same time the sun rises.
Many also associate the flowers’ blooming habit of flowering in the morning and dying every evening with resilience and hope.
Moreover, the different colors of morning glories also carry deep meanings and symbolism.
Tips to Make Asters and Morning Glories Last Longer
If someone gifted you a bouquet or basket of morning glories or asters, follow the following tips to make them last longer. When they’re cared for properly, you’ll be able to enjoy their beauty for 7 to 14 days.
1. Cut the stem at an angle
Make sure to cut the stems of the flowers at an angle to make it easier for them to absorb water. Use a sharp scissor or knife to make the cut, as bending may just do more harm.
2. Remove leaves in the water of the vase.
Don’t let any of the leaves touch the water, as this can cause them to rot and release bacteria that may kill the flowers.
3. Add flower food to the water.
You can use flower food that’s available in the market or create one using water, lemon juice, sugar, and bleach. It’s important to use flower foods as they help keep the flowers fresh.
4. Change the water every other day.
We don’t want to risk getting too much bacteria in the water, so it’s better to regularly change it every other day. While at it, give the vase a clean, too, to remove the bacteria that may have attached to the glass.
