September’s birth flowers are usually given as the aster and the morning glory. Both have long histories in the language of flowers, though what Victorian dictionaries actually said differs from what most gift guides claim. This guide covers the September flower meaning for both, from Kate Greenaway’s 1884 Language of Flowers to modern conventions. It also notes which meanings have no clear source, and which of the two is safe around pets.
What Is the September Birth Flower?
| Aster | Morning glory | |
|---|---|---|
| Victorian meaning (Greenaway 1884) | China aster: Variety, Afterthought. Michaelmas daisy: Afterthought | Affectation |
| Common modern meaning | Love, wisdom, patience | Love, renewal, fleeting beauty |
| Family | Asteraceae | Convolvulaceae |
| Flowering | Late summer to fall (New England aster August to October) | Summer to early fall |
| Pets | China aster non-toxic (ASPCA) | Toxic (ASPCA) |
Sources: Greenaway, Language of Flowers (1884); NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Birth flower lists are a modern tradition with no single official authority, and lists vary, but the aster and the morning glory are the two most often given for September. The aster’s late bloom fits the month: NC State Extension says the New England aster blooms from August to October. Michaelmas daisy, a common name for some asters, refers to Michaelmas, the feast of St Michael on September 29.
Aster Flower Meaning
The name comes from Greek: the RHS notes that “aster” means star in ancient Greek, after the starlike flower shape. Many North American asters, including the New England aster, have since been moved to the genus Symphyotrichum (NC State lists it as previously Aster novae-angliae), but they are still called asters.
| Entry in Greenaway (1884) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aster (China) | Variety. Afterthought |
| China Aster, Double | I partake your sentiments |
| China Aster, Single | I will think of it |
| Michaelmas Daisy | Afterthought |
| Daisy, Michaelmas | Farewell |
Source: Kate Greenaway, Language of Flowers (1884), Project Gutenberg 31591. The dictionary gives both “Afterthought” and “Farewell” under different Michaelmas daisy entries.
The Victorian meanings, “afterthought,” “I will think of it” and “farewell,” fit a flower that blooms at the end of the season. Today, asters are more often said to stand for love, wisdom, faith and patience. Those meanings are widely repeated in modern birth flower guides, but they don’t appear in Greenaway’s dictionary. A popular story says asters grew from the tears of the Greek goddess Astraea; this appears in modern flower writing rather than in classical sources, so treat it as folklore.
Morning Glory Meaning
| Entry in Greenaway (1884) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Morning Glory | Affectation |
| Convolvulus | Bonds |
| Convolvulus, Major | Extinguished hopes |
| Convolvulus, Pink | Worth sustained by judicious and tender affection |
| Convolvulus, Blue (Minor) | Repose. Night |
Source: Kate Greenaway, Language of Flowers (1884), Project Gutenberg 31591.
Many sites claim the Victorian meaning of morning glory was “love in vain” or “affection”; Greenaway actually lists it as “Affectation,” meaning showing off or pretense. The related convolvulus entries add “Bonds” and “Extinguished hopes.” Modern meanings of love, renewal and fleeting beauty come from the flower’s habit: each bloom opens in the morning and lasts only a day, while the vine keeps producing new ones.
In Japan, the morning glory (asagao, Ipomoea nil) has been a popular garden flower since the Edo period, according to a 2018 review by Morita and Hoshino. See our Japanese morning glory guide.
Color Meanings
Greenaway gives color-specific meanings only for convolvulus (pink: “worth sustained by judicious and tender affection”; blue: “repose, night”). Other color meanings for asters and morning glories are modern florist conventions based on general color symbolism:
- White: purity, new beginnings.
- Purple: wisdom, dignity; the classic aster color.
- Pink: affection, kindness.
- Red: love, passion.
- Blue: calm, constancy; the classic morning glory color, as in ‘Heavenly Blue’.
Why Two Birth Flowers?
No organization sets birth flowers, so lists differ between countries, florists and publishers, and many months have two. The aster’s Michaelmas connection and late-summer bloom made it a natural September choice, and the morning glory is also in full flower in late summer. Giving both, or choosing between them, is a matter of preference and practical factors such as pets.
Asters in History
The aster also has a political history. Hungary’s revolution of late October 1918, which brought Count Mihály Károlyi to power, is known as the Aster Revolution because its supporters wore asters in their hats and caps.
Growing Asters
NC State says the New England aster, native to eastern North America, grows 3 to 6 feet tall in full sun and moist, fertile, well-drained soil, and is hardy in USDA zones 4a to 8b. Pinching the stems in spring makes a bushier plant and delays flowering. It can get powdery mildew, so give it good air flow and water at the base. Its flowers attract bees, hover flies and migrating monarch butterflies (NC State). For watering tips, see our bottom watering guide.
Growing Morning Glories
Morning glories are annual twining vines grown from seed. Nick and soak the hard seeds before sowing in warm soil after frost, give them full sun and a trellis, and keep fertility low. The University of Michigan climbing plants guide notes that common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea) is native to Central America, usually grows 2 to 5 m (7 to 16 ft) and can produce 26,000 seeds per plant, so deadhead if you don’t want seedlings everywhere. Our morning glory growing guide has the details.
Which One to Give
- For a home with pets: China aster, which the ASPCA lists as non-toxic.
- For a cut-flower bouquet: asters; morning glory flowers last only a day.
- For a gardener with a fence or trellis: morning glory seeds or a young plant.
- For the Victorian message: a double China aster says “I partake your sentiments.”
Are September Birth Flowers Safe for Pets?
The ASPCA lists the China aster (Callistephus chinensis) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Other plants called asters are not all listed, so check the specific plant. Morning glories are a different story: the ASPCA lists Ipomoea species as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of indole alkaloids (lysergic acid, lysergamide, elymoclavine and chanoclavine), with vomiting, and hallucinations after large amounts of seeds. Keep morning glory seeds and plants out of reach, and call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if a pet eats them. See our cat-safe plants list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the September birth flower?
Most lists give the aster and the morning glory. Birth flower lists are a modern tradition and vary by source.
What does the aster mean in the language of flowers?
Greenaway (1884) gives China aster as “Variety. Afterthought,” double China aster as “I partake your sentiments,” and single China aster as “I will think of it.”
What does the morning glory symbolize?
Greenaway lists it as “Affectation.” Modern guides associate it with love, renewal and fleeting beauty, because each flower lasts only a day.
Why is it called a Michaelmas daisy?
Because some asters flower around Michaelmas, the feast of St Michael on September 29. Greenaway lists Michaelmas daisy as “Afterthought.”
Are asters safe for cats?
The ASPCA lists the China aster as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Are morning glories poisonous to dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists them as toxic because of indole alkaloids, especially in the seeds.
Sources
- Greenaway, K. (1884). Language of Flowers. Project Gutenberg
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster)
- RHS: Asteraceae plant family
- University of Michigan Climbers: Ipomoea purpurea
- Morita, Y. and Hoshino, A. (2018). Breeding Science 68
- ASPCA: China Aster
- ASPCA: Morning Glory