About September Flower
Our Mission and Purpose
September Flower exists to provide accurate, detailed information about the flowers associated with September birthdays. We focus specifically on asters and morning glories, the traditional birth flowers for this transitional month between summer and fall. Our goal is to help people understand the rich symbolism, growing requirements, and cultural significance of these beautiful blooms.
The site serves multiple audiences: gardeners seeking practical cultivation advice, individuals researching birth flower meanings for gifts or tattoos, and anyone curious about the botanical and cultural aspects of September flowers. We recognize that birth flowers carry personal significance for many people, whether they're choosing flowers for a September birthday celebration, planning a meaningful tattoo design, or simply wanting to grow flowers that connect to their birth month.
Unlike general gardening sites, we specialize exclusively in September birth flowers, allowing us to provide depth and detail that broader resources cannot match. We cover everything from the differences between New England asters and alpine asters to the specific symbolism of combining September flowers with birth flowers from other months in tattoo designs. This focused approach ensures that visitors find comprehensive, relevant information without sifting through unrelated content.
The Significance of September Birth Flowers
Birth flowers have been associated with specific months for centuries, with roots in ancient Roman customs and Victorian-era flower language. The practice gained widespread popularity in the United States during the early 20th century, becoming as common as birthstones for representing one's birth month. September's assignment of the aster reflects both the flower's natural blooming period and its symbolic meanings that align with the characteristics of Virgo and Libra, the zodiac signs that span this month.
The aster's name comes from the ancient Greek word for 'star,' referring to its distinctive flower shape. According to mythology, asters were created when the goddess Astraea wept, and her tears fell to earth as stardust that became flowers. This mythological connection adds layers of meaning to the aster beyond its Victorian symbolism of love, wisdom, and faith. Native American tribes used asters medicinally and recognized their value in supporting late-season pollinators preparing for winter.
Morning glories complement asters as September's alternative birth flower, offering different but equally meaningful symbolism. The flower's daily cycle of opening at sunrise and closing by afternoon has inspired poets and philosophers for generations, representing the beauty of fleeting moments and the importance of seizing opportunities. In Japanese culture, morning glories (asagao) have been cultivated since the 8th century and symbolize summer's end and autumn's approach, perfectly aligning with September's transitional nature. Together, asters and morning glories provide September-born individuals with rich symbolic options that reflect both enduring wisdom and momentary beauty.
| Year/Period | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Greece | Asters named from 'aster' (star) | Established connection between flower and celestial symbolism |
| Ancient Rome | Flowers associated with calendar months | Early foundation for birth flower tradition |
| 8th Century | Morning glories introduced to Japan | Began centuries of cultivation and symbolic development |
| 1800s Victorian Era | Formal flower language codified | Asters assigned meanings of love, wisdom, faith |
| Early 1900s | Birth flowers popularized in America | September officially linked with aster |
| 1970s-1980s | Native plant movement grows | Renewed interest in native aster species |
| 2000s-Present | Birth flower tattoos surge in popularity | September flowers gain new relevance for personal expression |
How We Support Your September Flower Journey
September Flower provides practical, research-based information to help you successfully grow, understand, and appreciate September birth flowers. Our growing guides draw from university extension services, botanical gardens, and experienced horticulturists to ensure accuracy and reliability. We explain the differences between aster varieties, from compact 'Wood's Blue' suitable for containers to towering 'Alma Potschke' that creates dramatic garden backdrops.
For those interested in birth flower symbolism and tattoo designs, we offer detailed explanations of how to combine September flowers with other months' blooms. The popularity of combination tattoos featuring July and September birth flowers or January and September birth flowers reflects people's desire to commemorate relationships with parents, children, partners, or friends. We provide context for these combinations, explaining how different flowers' meanings interact and complement each other in meaningful designs.
Our FAQ section addresses the most common questions people ask about September flowers, from basic identification to specific care requirements for different climates and growing conditions. We regularly reference authoritative sources and provide links to additional resources for those wanting to explore topics in greater depth. Whether you're planning a September birthday garden, choosing meaningful flowers for a special occasion, or designing a permanent tribute through a birth flower tattoo, September Flower offers the detailed information you need to make informed, confident decisions.
Additional Resources
We recommend the following authoritative sources for further learning:
- National Park Service wildflower information provides excellent resources about native asters and their ecological importance in North American landscapes.
- Encyclopedia Britannica offers comprehensive botanical information about asters, including detailed taxonomic and historical context about these important fall-blooming flowers.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service conducts ongoing research into ornamental plant breeding and cultivation, including work with native aster species and cultivars.