Merrylet
Sign in
Sign in
Birth flowers

September birth flower: the aster and the morning glory

By the Merrylet teamUpdated

September has two birth flowers: the aster and the morning glory. The aster, named after the Greek word for star, stands for love, wisdom and patience. The morning glory, which opens every morning and closes by afternoon, stands for affection.

Plate IXSeptemberAster, the September birth flower: a painted stem of purple star-like flowersMorning glory, the second September birth flower: a painted vine with two blue trumpets
Aster amellusIpomoea purpurea

Two flowers for September

Aster

Aster amellus

Love, wisdom and patience

Colors
Purple, lilac, pink, white
In flower
Late summer into autumn
Feels like
Starry, wise, gentle

Morning glory

Ipomoea purpurea

Affection, and love that lasts

Colors
Blue, purple, pink, white
In flower
Summer into early autumn
Feels like
Climbing, bright, early
September birthstoneSapphire
ZodiacVirgo, then Libra from September 23

What does the aster mean?

The aster means love, wisdom and patience. It opens as summer fades, filling borders with purple when most flowers are finished.

In Britain it is called the Michaelmas daisy, because it is in full bloom around Michaelmas, September 29.

Star

Aster is the Greek word for star, after the shape of the flower’s rays.

What does the morning glory mean?

The morning glory means affection, and a love that keeps coming back. Each flower opens with the sun and closes by the afternoon, and a new one opens the next morning.

It is a climber, twining up fences and strings, and a single vine can cover a whole trellis in one summer.

One morningHow long each morning glory flower lasts: it opens at dawn and closes by afternoon, and the vine opens new ones every day.

Aster or morning glory: which is the September birth flower?

Both. The aster is the one most lists give first; the morning glory is the second flower.

AsterMorning glory
SaysYou are wise and patientI’ll keep coming back to you
Best forA mentor, a parent, a calm friendA partner, an early riser

Morning glory seeds are poisonous to people and pets, so keep packets and seed heads out of reach.

Give them their flowers

A birthday card that blooms as summer ends

Bloom birthday card

The Bloom birthday card plays on their phone: they plant the seed packet, a painted garden grows and blooms, and your message appears word by word. Add their name and a few words to the card, send it by text, and they just tap the link.

Something to write inside
  • An aster for you: a star, like you.
  • Born in September, when the light turns golden. Happy birthday.
  • Here’s to a year as bright as a morning glory at sunrise.
See the card play, then sendAll birthday cards

Watch the card before you write a word. Your first greeting card is free.

September birth flower questions

What is the September birth flower?
September has two birth flowers: the aster and the morning glory. The aster stands for love, wisdom and patience. The morning glory stands for affection.
Why is it called an aster?
Aster is the Greek word for star, because the flower’s thin petals spread out from the center like the rays of a star.
Why does the morning glory close in the afternoon?
Each flower lasts only one morning: it opens at dawn and closes by afternoon. The vine keeps opening new flowers every day.
Are morning glories poisonous?
The seeds are poisonous to people and pets if eaten. The flowers and leaves are safe to touch.
What is the September birthstone?
The sapphire. People born in September are Virgo until September 22 and Libra from September 23.

September’s birthstone: sapphire, what it means and its color.

Birth flowers for every month

← August: gladiolus and poppyOctober: marigold and cosmos →

All birth flowers, month by month

Sources