Birth flower for September
The aster's name comes from the Greek word for star, and the flower's shape — a central disk surrounded by radiating petals — makes the connection obvious. Asters bloom in late summer and fall, when most other flowers have finished, which has made them a symbol of patience and elegance. In ancient Greece, asters were sacred to the gods and were placed on altars as offerings. The New England aster, with its vivid purple petals and golden center, is one of the most recognizable wildflowers in North America. Asters are also important late-season food sources for pollinators, especially monarch butterflies preparing for migration.
Why Aster for September?
The aster became September's flower because it is one of the few flowers that comes into its own in autumn, blooming profusely when most summer flowers have faded. The ancient Greeks believed asters grew from the tears of the goddess Astraea weeping over the lack of stars on Earth, so the gods created star-shaped flowers to comfort her.