Autumn's on the way, and there's no time like today to get acquainted with your designated September birth flowers — aster and morning glory. Whether a striking star or velvety trumpet, these radiant purple blooms build a beautiful bridge between summer and fall. But behind their vibrant visages lies an interesting symbolic history just waiting to unfold.
Aster & Morning Glory
September babies are blessed to call asters and morning glories their birth flowers.
Asters are perennial plants with differing bloom times depending on the species. While the traditional aster comes in a lovely purple hue, you can find them in several other colors, including white, pink, and blue.
Where asters are composed of spiky ray florets, morning glories boast delicate, shallow trumpet-shaped flowers. This romantic climber comes in a wide array of colors, including purple, pink, white, blue, and magenta, and blooms from spring through the first fall frost.
Related: September Birthstone: The History, Lore, & Value of Sapphires
Aster Myths & Symbology
Aster flowers have symbolic meanings rooted deeply in faith, innocence, love, and wisdom. These connections stretch back to antiquity, where Ancient Greek myths tie asters to the virgin-god of justice. Astraea, distressed by the night sky having so few stars, wept, and asters grew in the place of her tears.
Building a September birthday bouquet? Be mindful of these specific aster color meanings:
- Blue — loyalty and dedication
- Pink — young love and a new love
- Purple — wisdom, often spiritual
- Red — deep devotion
- White — renewal
7 Tips for Growing Aster
Asters make a go-to garden addition with so many species to choose from. For example, some grow up to 8" while others can reach 8' tall! But before you take on a new bundle of birthday buds, get to know this pretty flower's growing habits first.
- Ideally, you should cultivate your aster seeds indoors and transplant them in the spring to avoid unpredictable frosts.
- Asters thrive in full or partial sunlight and are well-suited for warmer climates when planted in places that receive afternoon shade.
- Asters prefer loamy, well-draining soil.
- Water your asters regularly, especially if you're getting less than an inch of rainfall a week.
- Divide your asters every two to three years to prevent them from overcrowding.
- Asters are prone to powdery mildew, rust, leaf spots, and aster yellows.
- Beware aphids, leaf hoppers, leaf miners, thrips, and caterpillars as they can threaten your aster's health.
Related: 50 September Trivia Questions & Answers Sure to Stump You
Morning Glory Myths & Symbology
Morning glory's symbolic meanings befit their mournful name. With short lifespans, these flowers, being symbols of short-lived love and mortality, stretch back to the ancient world. One Chinese folktale presents a doomed couple, said to represent morning glories themselves, who were only able to meet once a year, from sunrise to sunset.
As you pad out your September birthday bouquet, consider adding specific morning glories with meanings like these:
- Blue — trustworthiness, loyalty
- Magenta — passionate love
- Pink — gentle, romantic love
- Purple — noble love and beauty
- White — innocence and pure love
7 Tips for Growing Morning Glory
Morning glories are a sought-after garden addition thanks to their climbing tendencies and low-maintenance needs. A favorite Victorian garden flower, these nostalgic beauties wrap themselves around poles, trellises, pergolas, and arbors. But there are a few things you should know about cultivating morning glories before jumping right in.
- Hummingbirds and butterflies love morning glories.
- To unfurl full blooms, morning glories require full sun.
- While morning glories can handle nutrient-deficient soil, richer soil will lead to prolific flowers.
- Morning glory vines can grow between six to ten feet in a single season.
- Morning glory plants can tolerate drought, but prefer moist soil.
- Morning glories are prone to leaf spot and damping off.
- Beware cotton aphids, leaf-cutter, spider mites, and leaf miners, as they can prove harmful to a morning glory's health.
Morning glory seeds are poisonous to humans and pets.
Celebrate September Births With a Beautiful Bouquet
Birthday bouquets are a time-honored tradition, and a unique way to blend ancient symbolism with modern craft. Whether you're treating yourself to a September birthday bouquet or gifting a bundle to a loved one, make sure to fill them with asters and morning glories.
