October birth flower: marigold and cosmos

The story behind the October birth flowers

October's birth flowers are the marigold and the cosmos. The lists are English and American, and October is autumn there, when both are among the last annuals still flowering before the frosts. Nobody knows exactly who first paired them with October, and some older lists give other flowers for the month.

The older meanings are darker than the new ones. Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers (1884) gives the marigold as grief, and cosmos doesn't appear in it at all. Today marigolds are read as warmth and creativity, and in Mexico they're the flower of the Day of the Dead, used to guide spirits home. Cosmos, also from Mexico, has come to mean harmony.

Both grow easily in Australian gardens through the warmer months but are rarely sold as cut flowers here. For an October birthday that means a substitute, or a punnet of seedlings for someone who gardens. Seedlings planted now will flower through summer, and cosmos in particular gives armfuls of stems for cutting.

Luckily October is full spring. Peonies start arriving late in the month and suit a milestone birthday. Flannel flowers are in season and have the same open, simple face as cosmos. Waratahs give you the warm reds of a marigold in a native flower. Buy peonies in firm bud and they'll open over a few days. Kangaroo paw and waxflower are still in season as well, if you'd like a fully native bunch.

Gift tip: The first peonies of the season sell quickly, so ask your florist a few days ahead whether they're expecting a delivery that week.