November's Birth Flower: Chrysanthemum

November’s birth flower is the bright and cheery chrysanthemum!

Often simply called mums, you can find this bloom in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors, including the most common pink, white, yellow and red varieties.
​Chrysanthemums symbolize loyalty, honesty, love, friendship, and get well wishes, though meanings can vary depending on the flower’s color.  

A native to Asia and northeastern Europe, their name comes from the Greek words “chrysos,” meaning gold, and “anthemon,” which means flower. 
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Most of our gardens here in central Wisconsin are done blooming or putting on any showy color by November...Chrysanthemums are one of the most colorful late blooming flowers! This makes them a favorite for many gardeners.

​They are a member of the daisy family, which also includes asters, zinnias and coneflowers. This makes them attractive to pollinators, it's a good idea to plant some chrysanthemums as a late source of nectar in your garden if you have migrating butterflies.

While we can enjoy the late blooms of these beautiful flowers outdoors for only the late summer and fall months, you can usually find blooming chrysanthemums at your local florist just about any time of the year.

Fun facts: 

• Contrary to their appearance, the chrysanthemum’s fluffy blooms are not just one single large flower, but rather a grouping of many tiny flowers.
• A study by NASA has found that chrysanthemum plants help reduce indoor air pollution. 
• The chrysanthemum is one of the most popular flowers to give! It is one of the traditional flowers to give for Mother's Day because of their common name "mum". 
• Chrysanthemums are the traditional flower to give on a 13th wedding anniversary.
• The official flower of the city of Chicago is the chrysanthemum.