Flowers, perhaps more than any other part of the natural world, are fascinating because of the many layers of meaning people have shrouded them in throughout history.

There is a whole sub-category of etiquette surrounding which flowers are appropriate to give at what times, and to whom. The unending rules surrounding something so simple as a flower can be dizzying.

Another aspect of flower lore concerns the designated flowers for each month of the year. September’s official flower is the aster.

History and Lore of the Aster

The aster is a daisy-like flower featuring a dense center surrounded by small petals. Native to Europe and Asia, these hardy flowers are frost resistant, and many species bloom in the fall. Asters come in a range of colors, most prominently purples, pinks, blues, and white. They are a close relative of chrysanthemums, another fall flower.

The flowers got their name from the Latin astrum, which means “star,” due to its star-like shape. Asters are a popular garden flower because of their bright, cheerful appearance, the ease with which they can be grown (they can grow in all hardiness zones), and their late bloom time, which makes them a good complement to early risers. Asters are also great for attracting butterflies.

According to ancient lore, burning aster leaves was once believed to drive away snakes. Among the meanings and traits ascribed to them are patience, daintiness, faith, wisdom, and valor.

Another Flower Attributed to September Is the Morning Glory

The name “morning glory” can refer to any of more than 1,000 species of viny, herbaceous plants that produce bright, trumpet-shaped flowers. They range in color from white through pink to deep purple, with purples and blues among the most commonly grown varieties.

Cultivated morning glories are most often annuals, but are popular garden flowers because they spread easily, are tolerant of poor soil, and like to climb. Each flower lasts only a single day, blooming near dawn and withering by day’s end, to be replaced by a new flower the next day.

The stems of some varieties of morning glories were traditionally eaten in Asia, and the flowers can be used to make a mildly hallucinogenic alcoholic beverage. In ancient China, the seeds were used as an herbal laxative. The plant was also used in Mesopotamia to harden rubber, millennia before Charles Goodyear invented the process of vulcanization.

According to the Victorian language of flowers, morning glories symbolize love in vain. They also represent daintiness, due to their delicate appearance and short lifespan.

Don’t Forget The Forget-Me-Not!

The forget-me-not is also recognized by some as the September birth flower. It symbolizes love and remembrance.

Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.

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