Official Birth Flower for November (Meaning & Symbolism)

The Official Birth Flowers for November

November isn’t simply the month between Halloween and Christmas. It’s a lot more than that, especially for the November birthday celebrants. You can make their days extra special by giving them the official birth flower for November – Chrysanthemums and Peonies.  Read through our quick guide below to know more about these eye-catching blooms. 

The Official Birth Flower Calendar:

November Birth Flower: The Beautiful Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemum, otherwise known as mums, is one of the two official November birth flowers. Not only is it a staple ornamental plant in fall gardens, but it also is one of the most popular cut flowers worldwide. Thanks to their cheerful and beautiful blooms that come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and shapes.

Brief History and Origin of the November Birth Flower

Chrysanthemums are part of the Asteraceae family, which also includes asters, sunflowers, and daisies, among others. Renowned Swedish botanist Karl Linnaeus gave the name chrysanthemum, which originated from the Greek words chrysos (gold) and anthemon (flower). 

These famed ornamental plants hold a long and interesting history. To start, the first cultivation of mums occurred in China during the 15th century BC as a flowering herb. Then, they reached the western part of the world in the 17th century. Today, it has become one of the most highly sought cut flowers for bouquets and other types of floral arrangements. They are also known as the “Queen of Fall Flowers” because of their popularity. 

Types of Chrysanthemum Flowers

The bright and cheerful mums have hundreds of different recognized cultivars. Because of their broad classification, the National Chrysanthemum Society in the US has made a classification system based on the flower’s shape as follows:

• Anemone
• Decorative
• Irregular Incurve
• Intermediate Incurve
• Regular Incurve
• Pompom
• Quilled
• Single and Semi-Double
• Spider
• Spoon
• Reflex
• Thistle
• Unclassified

Meanings and Symbolism of a Chrysanthemum Flower

A pot or bouquet of chrysanthemums instantly adds a pop of color in any home. And that’s just one reason why these blooms have become a popular choice for flower gifting for many occasions. Another reason perhaps is the meanings and symbolism they hold, which vary depending on the flower’s colors. 

Generally, the November birth flower symbolizes friendship and well-wishes. They make an excellent gift for birthdays and baby showers since they also signify life and rebirth. Moreover, chrysanthemum flowers represent joy, good luck, happiness, longevity, honor, and respect. 

In various parts of the world, particularly in Europe, mums are expressions of sympathy. In Japan, on the other hand, a special day called Chrysanthemum Day or Festival of Happiness is celebrated annually on September 9th in commemoration of these special flowers. 

As with other gifting flowers like roses, peonies, delphiniums, and dahlias, the colors of chrysanthemum flowers give different meanings. Red mums, for instance, are a symbol of love, and yellow chrysanthemum flowers indicate sorrow and ignored love. While most white flowers symbolize purity and innocence, white chrysanthemums give a different meaning as they express loyalty and devoted love instead.   

Chrysanthemum is the official flower of Chicago and the 13th wedding anniversary flower.  

Buying and Caring Tips for Chrysanthemum Cut Flowers

Chrysanthemums are beautiful per se, but give them the proper care they need, and you’d be even more amazed by their bright and extravagant blooms. When given the right conditions, chrysanthemum cut flowers can last for 7 to 14 days. Here are some tips to get the best out of your chrysanthemums.

• Buy mums that still have lots of unopened buds if you want longer-lasting flowers. Doing so will extend bloom time by a few weeks.   However, you can always opt to get a plant that has many flowers open if you prefer to maximize their beauty instantly. 
• These blooms can be brittle, so make sure to check for any broken stem before making a purchase. 
• Bear in mind that these flowers fade faster in warmer temperatures. Thus, keeping your chrysanthemums in a cool area will help avoid color fading. 
• Avoid chrysanthemums that are drooping and wilting. They will most likely recover after watering, but the flowers may not last as long.
• Transfer and arrange the mums in a vase with clean water. Remove any foliage below the waterline. 
• Change the water regularly to avoid bacteria build-up. 
• Cut a little off the stem once a week to promote better water intake. 

Peony: The Other November Birth Flower

Though not as widely recognized as chrysanthemums, peonies are also considered as birth flowers for November. While mums are the Queen of Fall Flowers, peony flowers are referred to as the King of Flowers. Moreover, they are the 12th wedding anniversary flower. 

In the language of flowers, peonies carry many different meanings. The most common ones include romance, prosperity, good fortune, honor, and compassion. The full and rounded blooms also symbolize happiness and beauty in all forms. 

Peonies offer lots of colors, too. Pink peonies, for one, radiate a romantic appeal that makes them an ideal gift for birthdays or anniversaries. They usually represent riches and honor. White peonies, on the other hand, exude a classic and sophisticated charm without being overly feminine.

Other Popular In-Season November Flowers

Flower choices in November aren’t limited to chrysanthemums and peonies. If you prefer other kinds of blossoms, there are tons of alternatives out there that bloom as beautifully as the November birthday flowers. Here are some of the most popular flowers that are also in season during this time of the year. 

Calla Lily

Calla lily is one of the most sophisticated cut flowers that you can easily get from your favorite florist. They are a pick in floral bouquets and arrangements as gifts for various occasions, essentially because of the flowers’ graceful silhouettes. With a long vase life (7 to 10 days) and multiple color options available, calla lily flowers can quickly make any space more inviting. In floriography, calla lilies mean beauty, purity, and faithfulness. 

Gerbera Daisy

Another famed cut flower for November is gerbera daisy, which ranks as the 5th most popular cut flower worldwide. Like calla lilies, this flower from the daisy family also signifies beauty. It also symbolizes happiness, purity, and innocence. Gerberas, as a type of a daisy flower, can also be traditionally considered as the 5th Anniversary flower. 

Iris

Irises make excellent cut flowers for floral arrangements. They are mostly in shades of blue and purple, but other colors like white and yellow are also common. Like the November birth flowers, these flowers hold various meanings depending on their colors. Generally, iris flowers signify royalty and wisdom. They also mean respect, compliments, hope, faith, and passion.

Other Birth Flower Resources:

For further details on the meanings, symbolism of official flowers here are some of our favorite resources:

• The Old Farmer’s Almanac
• Wikipedia