Birth flowers are thought to represent certain characteristics of individuals born in that month. For example, since June’s birth flower is the rose, those born that month are considered to be loving, friendly and warm while December’s flower, the narcissus, symbolizes good fortune and hope– all the things you wish for in the upcoming new year.  

If you know someone who celebrates their birthday this month, instead of the usual gift card, give them a bouquet of their birth flower to make their day extra meaningful.

In this Healthy Insight

• What are September’s birth flowers?
• What are the uses of aster?
• What do aster flowers symbolize?
• What have been the uses of morning glory over time?
• What does the morning glory symbolize?
• List of birth months and flowers

What are September’s birth flowers?

September’s two late-blooming birth flowers, morning glory and aster, harken the end of summer and the beginning of a new season. Both flowers represent numerous qualities as you’ll see below. 

What are the uses of aster?

Originating in North America but now found growing across Europe and enjoyed worldwide, the aster displays starburst clusters of delicate petals resembling a daisy. Depending on the variety, asters can be 1 to 6 feet in height. Although the petals are historically purple, you will also find pink, white, blue and red asters.

The leaves and roots were used medicinally by Native Americans, but today gardeners and farmers. grow asters to add color to their garden or to provide and important late-season food for pollinators.

What do aster flowers symbolize?

The name aster is derived from the Greek word for “star” which originates from the Greek goddess Astraea. According to the story, Astraea was so upset about the lack of stars in the sky that she cried tears of sadness. Miraculously when her tears feel to the ground, star-shaped aster flowers sprung up. Asters are associated with wisdom, love and faith.

What have been the uses of morning glory over time?

There’s no mystery surrounding the name of the morning glory – they bloom in the morning! The flowers last just one day, fading a few hours after sunset. Fortunately, they bloom frequently and last until the first frost.

Depending on which botanic reference you use, there may be up to 9,000 different species of morning glories and even more hybrids. While the vast majority are on a vine, some are shrubs. Flowers can be red, blue, white or pink and range in width from one to eight inches. The one trait they usually share is funnel-shaped blossoms.

Morning glories can be somewhat weedy and may smother out other plants or climb up road signs if not controlled. They are, however, a valuable food source for hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and moths.

The Chinese were the first to use the morning glory medicinally, mainly as a laxative. Indigenous people of Mexico used it for religious rituals and early American settlers used it for a variety of health issues including joint pain and digestion.

What does the morning glory symbolize?

Due to the tenacity of the morning glory, it has come to generally symbolize strength and resilience to overcome adversity and ability to achieve hopes and dreams. Different colors can, however, represent further characteristics as seen below.

• White – purity
• Red – passion
• Pink – romance
• Blue – respect, trust
• Purple – beauty

List of birth months and flowers

• January: Carnation and Snowdrop
• February: Violet and Primrose
• March: Daffodil and Jonquil
• April: Daisy and Sweet Pea
• May: Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn
• June: Rose and Honeysuckle
• July: Larkspur and Water Lily
• August: Gladiolus and Poppy
• September: Aster and Morning Glory
• October: Marigold and Cosmos
• November: Chrysanthemum and Peony
• December: Narcissus and Holly