All About November’s Birth Flowers
October 27, 2022
November means much more than Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie, especially to those celebrating their birthday this month. Make their day extra special with a colorful bouquet of November’s birth flowers, chrysanthemum and peony.
In This Healthy Insight:
- What are November’s birth flowers?
- What are the uses of chrysanthemum?
- What do chrysanthemum flowers symbolize?
- What are the uses of peonies?
- What do peonies symbolize?
- List of birth months and flowers
What are November’s birth flowers?
November’s two birth flowers are chrysanthemum and peony. Chrysanthemum (mums) are the traditional fall flower and a garden staple. Often called the “Queen of Fall Flowers,” it’s also one of the most popular additions to a bouquet year-round thanks to its extravagant blooms available in many colors, shapes and sizes. November’s other birth flower, the peony, is considered the “King of Flowers” and is not commonly considered a fall flower, but as you’ll see it totally fits the season with its sensational scent and delicate petals.
What are the uses of chrysanthemum?
Native to eastern Asia where they were cultivated as an herb, mums are now grown around the world. The word, “chrysanthemum,” comes from the Greek prefix chrys- meaning gold (although they now come in purple, red, blue, white and more) and -anthemion, meaning flower.
Mums can be traced back to 15th century China where they were mentioned in writings and depicted in artwork. They are a member of the Asteraceae family, which also includes sunflowers and daisies. They are so important in China they’ve even named a city after them.
What do chrysanthemum flowers symbolize?
Chrysanthemums symbolize friendship, joy, happiness and honor. Since mums come in so many colors, their meaning can be further broken down. Red symbolizes love, yellow unrequited love, white purity and innocence, purple means get well soon and orange represents optimism. Interestingly, mums are also the flower for the 13th wedding anniversary. Individuals born in November are considered to embody loyalty and true friendship. A potted mum is an appropriate gift for men or women and can be planted in the ground and cherished for years to come.
What are the uses of peonies?
The scientific name of this large eye-catching flower is Paeonia officinalis, named after Paeon, the physician of the Greek gods. According to mythology, Paeon was a student of Asclepius, the god of medicine. When Asclepius tried to kill Paeon out of jealousy, Zeus intervened and turned Paeon into a peony to save his life.
Like chrysanthemum, it too was popularly cultivated in China. It does, however, naturally grow in America and Europe as well. For a long time, peonies were so treasured their use was restricted to emperors only. It is a gorgeous ornamental plant that can live up to 100 years and also makes a showy addition to bouquets.
What do peonies symbolize?
Like many other flowers, peonies can represent many different qualities with the most common being honor, compassion, happiness and good fortune. Each color of the peony also carries its own meaning. Purple shows support and encouragement, yellow new beginnings and pink means love at first sight or romance, making it an ideal gift for anniversaries. In fact they’re the flower for the 12th wedding anniversary, but don’t use white peonies unless you’re trying to say, “I’m sorry!”
List of birth months and flowers
Plan ahead with a meaningful bouquet for friends and family this year using the following guide.
- 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
For thousands of years flowers have been used to express feelings, complement a garden, heal various health conditions, or add fragrance to the air. Aromatherapy using floral and essential oils is enormously popular and Botanic Choice carries a huge array of them for many occasions. Whether you’re looking to create a calm or energizing atmosphere, you’re sure to find the perfect scent right here. Check out our aromatherapy today!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary.
