September birth flower: aster and morning glory

The story behind the September birth flowers

September's birth flowers are the aster and the morning glory. The lists are English and American, and in the northern hemisphere September is early autumn, when Michaelmas daisies, the classic English asters, flower towards the end of the month. The idea of a flower for each month is old, but the exact pairings vary from list to list.

Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers (1884) gives the Michaelmas daisy as "farewell" and the China aster as "variety", and it gives the morning glory as "affectation". The modern meaning of asters, patience and love, is a later and gentler reading. The name aster comes from the Greek for star, after the shape of the flower.

Neither is a September flower here. Asters flower in autumn in Australian gardens and turn up only occasionally as a cut flower. Morning glory is a climber, and the blue Ipomoea indica is a declared weed in parts of Australia, so it isn't something you'll find in a florist's bucket.

September has more choice than almost any other month, though. Waratahs are coming into flower and make a big statement for a spring birthday. Sweet peas come in the soft lilacs and purples of an aster, with a scent to match. Kangaroo paw is coming into season too and suits someone who would like something native. Tulips and ranunculus are at market all month as well, if the birthday person prefers classic spring flowers.

Gift tip: Spring festivals open this month, so tickets to Floriade in Canberra or a local tulip festival make a good gift for someone who would rather see flowers growing.