As a florist, it doesn't mean that we know about every flower's meaning, color, and symbolism. For many years, I thought marigolds were the November flower, primarily because of the Day of the Dead or Dia De Los Muertos on November 1 & 2. I was very wrong! However, it makes sense that a Chrysanthemum would be more suitable to be the November birth flower. 

The Chrysanthemum is native to Asia. The word Chrysanthemum comes from the Greek prefixes chrysos meaning “gold,” and anthenmon, meaning flower. This flower is a close member of the daisy family. The original color of the chrysanthemum was golden, just like the name says, but over the years and cultivation, the flower now has a wide range of colors from orange, yellow, white, purple, pink, and red.

This unique flower has various meanings around the world. In some places, a chrysanthemum symbolizes loyalty, friendship, and joy. The color may also carry a specific purpose. For example, red represents love, and white signifies innocence and honesty. I  would think that yellow would have a different meaning, like joy, but in this case, it represents a wounded heart. But I wouldn’t look too much into that since they are all so pretty.

In some parts of Europe, the chrysanthemum is seen as an expression of death and mourning. Others, like the Chinese or Japanese, view the flower as a sign of youth. According to folklore, just one chrysanthemum petal at the bottom of a glass of wine would promote longevity. Just a thought: make sure the petal is organic. You would not want to introduce unwanted chemicals to the body. I also read that according to Chinese tradition, the flower prevents grey hair. I don’t know about you, but this tradition may be worth considering. 

Now, let's talk gardening. Mums can be grown from seed, cuttings, or by division. You can also pick them up at your nearest gardening center and discard them after the winter. These are most likely not bred to be overwintered and are just used for fall decoration. But if you're growing them, they are an easy, hardy perennial. They should be planted in spring, but here in Phoenix, AZ, you can probably get away with producing them in the Fall since they are known to be hardy to zones 5,6,7,8,9. The plant needs to be established before the cold or the hot. But most likely, it will not bloom till fall. If you've had any luck growing them in Phoenix, AZ, I would be happy to find out how you did! 

I recently read a book called Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean, where the Crown Prince of Japan, a royal flower, was a Chrysanthemum.

I hope you brought this beautiful flower to your home this November. If not, you still have time!